St. Joseph's Tabbed To Defend Its Skyline Cross Country Titles

Press Release from the Skyline Conference

NEW YORK, N.Y. – St. Joseph's-L.I. has been selected to defend its men's and women's cross country titles in voting conducted by the league's head coaches. 

On the men's side, the Golden Eagles welcome back senior Brian Wersan, who finished runner-up at the 2012 Skyline Championship with a time of 28:27.20.  SJC has taken home the league crown in four of the past five seasons. 

Maritime has been picked second by the men's coaches, followed by Sage, Yeshiva, Farmingdale State, Purchase, Mount Saint Mary, Mount Saint Vincent, NYU-Poly and Old Westbury.  Cameron Coneys of Maritime seeks to defend his individual title as he seized the crown as a freshman in 2012 with a winning time of 28:04.52. 

Vying for its 10th title in program annals, St. Joseph's-L.I. has  been tabbed by the league's head coaches to seize the 2013 women's crown.  SJC returns reigning Skyline Rookie of the Year Brittany Guttieri, who finished sixth overall at the Championship a year ago.  Guttieri will be challenged by senior All-Conference selections Rachel Sleeter of Mount Saint Mary, Farmingdale State's Melissa Bonilla and Jackie Bellisari of Maritime in the race for the 2013 individual title. In addition, Purchase sophomore Katherine Henri was a seven-time Rookie of the Week selection in 2012. 

2012 runner-up Mount Saint Mary finished second in the voting, followed by Sage, Purchase, Maritime, Farmingdale State, Yeshiva, Mount Saint Vincent, Old Westbury and NYU-Poly. 

The 2013 Skyline Cross Country Championships will be held on Sunday, Oct. 27, at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, N.Y.  

2013 Skyline Women's XC Preseason Poll 
1. St. Joseph's-L.I.    
2. Mount Saint Mary
3. Sage   
4. Purchase    
5. Maritime    
6. Farmingdale State    
7. Yeshiva    
8. Mount Saint Vincent    
9. Old Westbury
10. NYU-Poly    

2013 Skyline Men's XC Preseason Poll
1. St. Joseph's-L.I.
2. Maritime
3. Sage
4. Yeshiva
5. Farmingdale State
6. Purchase
7. Mount Saint Mary
8. Mount Saint Vincent
9. NYU-Poly
10. Old Westbury