Three ±¬×ß³Ô¹Ï cross country runners earned All-American honors at the NJCAA Division III National Championship in Lincoln, RI. John Sweeney (Barker) earned Second Team honors with a ninth place finish (28:32). Ashley Fung (Greenwich) and Kaleigh Ligoci (Cicero-North Syracuse) each earned Honorable Mention with 12th place (21:09) and 13th place (21:12) respectively.
In his freshman year at ±¬×ß³Ô¹Ï, Sweeney has taken on a leadership role for the Pioneers. He has been ±¬×ß³Ô¹Ï's top finisher in all but one meet. Sweeney has continued to improve throughout the season, his national championship time was 40 seconds better than his time on the same course earlier this season. Sweeney also earned All-Region III honors this season.
Fung has been the leading runner for the women's team. This season, as a freshman, she has been ±¬×ß³Ô¹Ï's top finisher in every meet. She was overall winner at the ±¬×ß³Ô¹Ï Invitational and finished second at the Bridgeman Invitational. Fung also was honored as an All-Region III runner earlier this season.
Ligoci worked hard to improve on her earlier time at the CCRI course and she was able to shave off 43 seconds in her final race for the Pioneers. Her time of 21:55 at the Tri State Cross Country Invitational was her previous best time of the season.
The cross country teams finished their season on a high note with the men taking home third place nationally and the women finishing in fifth place.