Meet Results

ONEONTA, NY (November 13, 3010) – The Vassar College women's cross country team placed 6th out of 33rd teams at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships on Saturday, the highest finish in program history, and another milestone in a phenomenal record-setting season for the Brewers.

Liberty League champion St. Lawrence captured the championship with a clear victory over SUNY Geneseo, flipping the results of the men's race. St. Lawrence finished with 59 points. Vassar earned 147 points in its 6th place finish, just two shy of fifth place finisher SUNY Cortland. The top two teams earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships while the top five teams are in consideration for qualification into the NCAA Championships. 

In the 6k race run at Fortin Park and hosted by SUNY Oneonta, the Brewers placed four runners in the top 50 amongst a field that 236 participants. Vassar had runners finish 13th in junior Elizabeth Forbes, 16th with junior Johanna Spangler and 21th by freshman Aubree Piepmeier. Each earned All-Atlantic Regional Honors for being among the top 35 finishers.

“We've never had three All-Regional runners come out of this race before,” said McCowan. Both Forbes and Spangler are in contention for individual qualification into the NCAA Championships on November 20 in Waverly, Iowa and hosted by Wartburg College. The top seven individuals not on qualifying teams qualify for Nationals, and the at-large team berths are determined on Sunday, November 14.

“We had a sensational season and I am proud of what the women accomplished,” said McCowan. “Today's race is a little bittersweet because fifth is the last spot to go to nationals and we were two points away. It's a bit of a heartbreaker, but I don't want to focus on that aspect. Things were a bit topsy-turvy today, but the women ran a strong race and had a phenomenal season. They really kicked down the door to a new level of performance for Vassar cross country today.”

For the first time this season, Forbes led Vassar at the finish line, placing 12th overall in 22:50.2. “Elizabeth had the race out her career, just an amazing effort,” said McCowan. “In the past 14 months Elizabeth has gone from injury to being one of the best runners in program history.”

Spangler finished 15th overall (22:54.4), and was followed by Piepmeier (20th/23:01.4), who capped a sensational freshman season with All-Region honors. Senior Zoe Carpenter placed 46th (23:38.4) and rounding out the scoring contingent was sophomore Kelly Holmes in 52nd place (23:49.1).

Junior Hannah Ziobrowski was Vassar's sixth finisher and 68th overall (24:11). Freshman Chloe Williams finished seventh for the Brewers and 70th overall (24:15.7).

“We knew going into the race that we could finish anywhere from first to eighth,” McCowan explains. “We finished sixth, just off the mark, but we truly had a great season and have lots to build on. It has been a team first effort all season long and we're only going to get stronger next season. This should fuel our intentions next fall."