(Utica, N.Y.)- The SUNY Canton men’s and women’s cross country teams made history on Saturday at the SUNYIT Invitational in Utica as they were the first Kangaroos team to compete as a four-year athletic team. And the Roos had an impressive start to the season as both the men’s and women’s teams finished in third place overall.

“Everyone was really pumped up after the race,” said first-year head coach Chris Marquart. “Everyone ran very well and they were very happy with their efforts. It was a great start to the season.”

The SUNY Canton men finished with 46 points, just two points behind second place Hobart College (44). SUNYIT captured their inaugural meet with 34 points.

The SUNY Canton womens finished with 66 points and Daemen College was the overall winner with 28 points.

Sophomore Leslie Wilson (right) and freshman Ryan Madigan led the Kangaroos as they each finished in third place in their respective races. Wilson ran the 5K women’s race in 22:07 while Madigan finished the 6K men’s race in 21:27.

Two other Roos finished just behind Madigan on the men’s side. Freshman Justin Forth finished fourth (21:28), freshman Michael Wilbur finished sixth (21:37), and sophomore Scott Freeman came in 16th (24:36).

On the women’s side freshman Hayden Courneene came in 10th at 23:30 and freshman Danielle Mellon finished in 12th place with a time of 23:42.

The Roos will next compete at the North Country Invitational at Clarkson University on Sept. 11.

Return to Athletics