Pitt Finishes Regular Season Schedule with Penn State National Invitational
10/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Oct. 16, 2005
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - In recent weeks the Panthers have seen a number of injuries among the team, but the loss of a few key runners isn't bringing the morale down. In fact, many runners are using the opportunity to step up to leadership roles. At the Penn State National Invitational on Saturday, October 15, junior Steve Gonzalez, sophomore Candice Coholich, junior Suzy Bossart and senior Abby Zaylor added depth to the Panthers' line up.
On the men's side, sophomore Sam Bair (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area) led the team finishing 18th with a time of 25:52. Bair looks to continue a season of top finishes with the Big East Championships in two weeks. Also contributing to the men's team was junior Tim Konoval (Parry Sound, Ontario/Central Connecticut State) in 39th with a time of 26:13, and rounding out the top three was Gonzalez (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) with a time of 26:49. "We didn't have a full squad. We needed someone to step up," said Gonzalez. "I was glad I could make a move at the end." Due to a number of injuries, the men's team competed with only six runners instead of seven, and they were still able to post a 14th-place finish.
Senior Nicki Angstadt (Kutztown, Pa./Fleetwood) remained a leader on the women's team, finishing in 50th-place with a time of 22:15. Coholich (Gibsonia, Pa./Hampton) and Bossart (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem) rounded out the top three finishing with times of and 23:16 and 23:29 respectively. Also turning in a key performance was Zaylor (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) with a time of 23:34. Finishing in 23rd as a team, the three runners agreed that it was a good race for them, but now their focus is turning to the Big East Championships. "I think we need to continue working on staying strong and working together as a team," said Coholich.
The Panthers will head to Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx on Friday, October 28, for the Big East Championships. The women's race will begin at 12:30 p.m., and the men will start at 1:10 p.m. According to the Big East, the race will be televised nationally via tape delay on College Sports Television at 9 p.m. on Sunday, November 13.