Cross Country

Central Islip, N.Y. - The Queens College Women’s Cross Country team and the C.W. Post Men’s Cross Country team have been tabbed the ECC Preseason Favorites as voted upon by the league’s coaches.  Junior Jackline Toek from NYIT and sophomore Christian Altamura from C.W. Post are named the ECC Runners of the Year for their respective gender.

The Knights secured five first place votes with 53 total points to be crowned the preseason favorite.  Queens earned a total of 50 points to share the ECC Women’s Cross Country Championship title in 2009.  They were led by senior Amber Sayer who covered the 5K race in 20:06.6 for a fourth place finish, while three other placed in the top 14 to earn All-Conference honors.

NYIT earns the No. 2 spot on the women’s poll with two first place votes and 48 points.  The Bears shared the Championship title with the Knights last season.  NYIT crossed the top three finishers to claim both Runner and Rookie of the Year honors.

The Pioneers amassed 61 total points and five first place votes to take the top spot in the Men’s Preseason Poll.  They finished the 2009 ECC Cross Country Championships with 44 points to claim the title.  Christian Altamura led the way for the Pioneers with a time of 27:53.4 and three teammates helped propel the Pioneers to the top spot with Top 14 finishes.

Molloy comes in at No. 2 with two first place votes and 56 points.  The Lions totaled 75 points for a second place finish at the 2009 ECC Championships and placed two runners on All-Conference teams.

Toek finished second in the ECC Championship in 2009 with a time of 19:29.5.  She went on to place fourth at the NCAA East Region Championship to secure her second trip in as many years to the National Championship.  Additionally, she was named the ECC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Altamura led all freshman runners as well as the Pioneers at the 2009 ECC Championship to earn Rookie of the Year Honors.