Brookville, N.Y. – The C.W. Post cross country teams swept the 2011 East Coast Conference Cross Country Championships held on Sunday, October 23. The Pioneers men’s team won their third consecutive ECC title, while the women’s team took home their first ever ECC Championship.
In the men’s race, C.W. Post had five of the top 17 finishers to earn the title. Junior Christian Altamura was the first Pioneer across the finish line, posting an 8K time of 26:01.44 to place third overall. Matt O’ Keefe was second on the team and fifth overall with a time of 26:31.84 and teammate Raymond Coyle ran a time of 26:34.48 to finish sixth and earn a spot on the All-Conference First Team. Graduate student Richard Schmitz (Farmingdale, N.Y.) was C.W. Post’s other All-Conference member, finishing in eighth place with a time of 26:48.57 to be named to the Second Team.
In the women’s race, five Pioneers were among the first 15 across the finish line. Jennifer McLaughlin was the first finisher for C.W. Post, coming in sixth with a time of 19:52.91 in the 5K race. McLaughlin’s finish earned her a spot on the All-Conference First Team. The Pioneers also had three runners on the All-Conference Second Team. Alexa Montergari (20:15.89), Caitlin Smith (20:29.31), and Jessica Wiking (21:06.71) came in tenth, eleventh, and fourteenth place respectively to earn a spot on the All-Conference Second Team.
Head Coach Rob Morris was tabbed ECC Men's and Women’s
Cross Country Coach of the Year after leading the both Pioneers
teams to victory.
Nick Filippazzo of Molloy earned Runner of the Year honors as he
led all runners, covering the 8K course in 25:32.88.
Scott Litts of Dowling College was named the Rookie of the Year,
finishing seventh overall with a time of 26:42.36.
Indira Avila, a senior from Queens College was named Runner of the Year after capturing a first place finish. Avila broke the C.W. Post 5K course record with a time of 18:35.72.
Gladys Kimutai of NYIT was right behind Avila, finishing second to earn Rookie of the Year honors. Kimutai finished with a time of 18:43.72.
Men's Team Results
| Team | Points |
| 1. C.W. Post | 39 |
| 2. Molloy | 53 |
| 3. St. Thomas Aquinas | 96 |
| 4. Queens | 99 |
| 5. Dowling | 115 |
| 6. District of Columbia | 140 |
| 7. NYIT | 172 |
| 8. Bridgeport | 201 |
Women's Team Results
| Team | Points |
| 1. C.W. Post | 56 |
| 2. St. Thomas Aquinas | 65 |
| 3. Dowling | 102 |
| 4. NYIT | 105 |
| 5. Molloy | 109 |
| 6. Queens | 136 |
| 7. Bridgeport | 158 |
| 8. District of Columbia | 185 |
Men's Cross Country All-Conference First Team
Name (Time)
Nick Filippazzo, So., Molloy (25:32.88)
Hillary Mugun, Jr., UDC (25:54.69)
Christian Altamura, Jr., C.W. Post (26:01.44)
Nicholas Koiyet, Sr., NYIT (26:19.25)
Matt O'Keefe, Jr., C.W. Post (26:31.84)
Raymond Coyle, Jr., C.W. Post (26:34.48)
Scott Litts, Fr., Dowling (26:42.36)
Men's Cross Country All-Conference Second
Team
Name (Time)
Richard Schmitz, Sr., C.W. Post (26:48.57)
Joseph Chegwidden, Fr., STAC (26:50.95)
Joseph Sanchez, Jr., Molloy (26:55.85)
Ryan Healy, So., Molloy (27:08.38)
Michael Galonski, So., STAC (27:18.8)
Nick Dibenedetto, Jr., Molloy (27:24.43)
Max Gazzara, Jr., Queens (27:31.26)
Women's Cross Country All-Conference First
Team
Name (Time)
Indira Avila, Sr., Queens (18:35.72)
Gladys Kimutai, Fr., NYIT (18:43.58)
Keeley Bateman, So., STAC (19:19.30)
Alyssa Ligouri, So., Dowling (19:27.58)
Marissa Schoeps, Fr., Dowling (19:49.20)
Jennifer McLaughlin, So., C.W. Post (19:52.91)
Jackie Toek, Sr., NYIT (19:59.87)
Women's Cross Country All-Conference Second
Team
Name (Time)
Sarah Santos, Sr., Bridgeport (20:00.79)
Saraha Callagy, Sr., STAC (20:08.89)
Alexa Montegari, Fr., C.W. Post (20:15.89)
Caitlin Smith, Jr., C.W. Post (20:29.31)
Catherine Sandkuhl, Fr., STAC (20:33.91)
Alexandra Barrett, Sr., Molloy (20:55.00)
Jessica Wilking, Fr., C.W. Post (21:06.71)