St. John's announces cross country schedule

Aug 11, 2011

St. John's Releases Cross Country Schedule

(Photo: St. John's Athletic Communications)

QUEENS, N.Y. (August 10, 2011) – St. John’s head cross country coach Jim Hurt has released the schedule for the 2011 season, which includes six meets in New York State as well as trips to premier track venues at Lehigh University and Louisville, Ky.

The season opens on Sept. 3 at the Hofstra Brick Stone Run at Bethpage State Park. Current Hofstra cross country coach, Pete Alfano, is one of Hurt’s former athletes and has invited the Red Storm to compete against other local area teams. Scenic Bethpage State Park serves as an ideal opening location because its excellent 5K layout is comparable to many of the BIG EAST cross country competition sites.

(Photo: St. John's Athletic Communications)

A return to the C.W. Post Invite is slated for Sept. 17, as the team will travel out to Long Island for the 5K event. The race will take place on C.W. Post’s campus in Brookville, N.Y. Two weeks later the Red Storm will compete at the Paul Short Invite on Sept. 30 at the Lehigh University Campus. The Paul Short Invite has become an elite, collegiate competition that attracts over 120 teams participating in three different races.

During the month of October, the St. John’s cross country team returns to the New York metropolitan area for two exciting events. The 5K Metropolitan Championships will take place on Oct. 7 at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. The second meet of the month, taking place on Oct. 16, is the annual St. John’s Fall Cross Country Festival at nearby Cunningham Park in Queens. The day will be a true celebration of St. John’s athletic values as the morning begins with a mile run/walk for breast cancer research and concludes with a reception on campus for all family, friends and alumni of the cross country program.

(Photo: St. John's Athletic Communications)

Postseason competitions begin on Oct. 28 with the BIG EAST Championships in Louisville, Ky. The 6K race is one of the top conference meets in the country as it brings together many of the nation’s most successful cross country programs. The team will then travel to Buffalo, N.Y., on Nov. 12 to compete in the NCAA Regional Championships which will be held at the Audubon Golf Course. A strong performance in Buffalo could qualify the Red Storm for the NCAA Championships.

Another race at Van Cortlandt Park will give the team an opportunity to bring an ECAC Championship back to St. John’s campus. The team finished fourth in 2010 at the ECAC Championships but hopes to place even higher in 2011. The cross country season concludes on Nov. 21 with the NCAA Championships in Louisville, Ky.

The Red Storm expects a solid season from the squad this year as it returns a solid mix of experienced runners and emerging talent. St. John’s returns consistent senior performers Samantha Meyerhoff, Nicole Cocozza and Aryon Trujillo, who will be expected to lead rising sophomores Angela Jarvela and Chelsea Trant during the 2011 campaign. Michelle Duffy, who is returning from injury, and Alexis Bean also plan to establish themselves as regular contributors throughout the upcoming season.

(Photo: St. John's Athletic Communications)