Men's Cross Country Finishes Fourth in PSACs; Women are Sixth

BLOOMSBURG —The Bloomsburg University men's and women's cross country teams competed at the 2004 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships on Saturday. The men finished fourth out of 11 teams, while the women were sixth out of 13 teams. On the men's side, Lock Haven captured their second consecutive championship, placing their five scoring runners in the top nine. Lock Haven finished with 27 points, while Edinboro was second with 67 points. Shippensburg finished in third with 83 points, ahead of Bloomsburg's 156 points.

Justin Shepherd (Cranberry Twp./Seneca Valley) led the Huskies on the men's side, placing 10th and earning All-PSAC honors for the second year in a row. Shephered finished the 8K course with a time of 26:15. Mike Espinosa (Media/Penncrest) finished second for the Huskies in 20th, with a time of 26:49, while Paul Gardiner (Airville/Kennardale) finished 38th in 27:17. Rounding out the scoring for Bloomsburg were Chip Carnes (Williamsport/Williamsport) and Bill Shephardson (McMurray/Peters Twp.). Carnes finished with a time of 27:33, while Shepardson was 55th in 28:02.

Edinboro took the team crown for the women, with all five scorers in the top 10. They finished the race with 26 points, while Slippery Rock was second with 114 points. Host, Kutztown finished third with 118 points, edging out Indiana (PA), who was fourth with 119 points. Clarion placed fifth, scoring 136 points, while Bloomsburg finished in the six spot with 148 points.

For the women, Amber Hackenberg (Middleburg/Middleburg) led the way, placing 11th , earning All-PSAC honors in her first PSAC Championship. Hackenberg finished the 6K course in 23:30 for the Huskies. Mary Bacher (New Tripoli/Allentown Central Catholic) and Karen Hause (Bloomsburg/Central Columbia) were second and third for the Huskies, placing 28th and 30th, respectively. Bacher finished with a time of 24:42, while Hause finished the race with a time of 24:51. Amanda Pisano (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown) placed 45th for the Huskies, finishing in 25:23, while Terri Sutherland (Dauphin/Central Dauphin East) rounded out the scoring with a time of 25:25, good enough for 48th place.

The Huskies will compete at the NCAA Regional Championships at Indiana (PA) next weekend.