Vermont Tech hosts largest field ever in this year's Cross Country Invitational
Ranolph Center, VT - On Saturday Vermont Tech hosted 13 Colleges at our 11th annual Maple Syrup Challenge. This was our largest event to date. The maple syrup challenge is when Colleges come to Vermont Tech and if they beat us in the race we give them a gallon of Maple Syrup.
This year we gave out 7 gallons of syrup to Middlebury College, St. Michaels College, Fitchburg State, Norwich University, Castleton University, Paul Smith's College and SUNY Canton. Syrup was also given as awards to first through 3rd place finishers in both the Men's race and the Women's race. This Years top runner from the Men's race were Alec Gironda from Middlebury who won the 8k race in 27:05 and on the women's side, also from Middlebury, was Beatrice Parr who won the 5K race in 20:05.
Vermont Tech finished in 8th place of 13 colleges led by Trevor Kipp of Brattleboro Vermont. He finished 18th overall with a team record time of 30:09. Team mates Rio Coursen (52nd) , Oskar Lehnartz (53rd) , Alex Yaggy (63rd), and Elijah Boucher (64th) helped to lead the team to victory over NVU Lyndon, Dean College, Clinton CC, New Hampshire Technical College, and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. There were 117 runners in this meet which is the largest Collegiate meet hosted at Vermont Tech. "We ran against big schools and came out OK" said Coach Dunkle of his freshman team. "We are looking strong for the conference meet on October 29th, which we are also hosting here at Vermont Tech. Our last home meet as a "Tech" as we start a new journey to Vermont State University"
Coach Dunkle gives a big shout out to all who helped make this possible from the campground next door, Facilities and Silloway Maple for donating maple candy for the runners. Vermont Tech supplies it own syrup as we make it here on campus. As long as the sap runs in the Spring we will have a Maple Syrup challenge I the fall. Vermont Tech takes next weekend off and will compete at Albany the end of the Month.
In the Women's race Shayla Hubacher of Vermont Tech spoke with the coaches about dedicating the race to Eliza Fletcher, a 34 year old woman murdered while on a run on Memphis Tennessee. Shayla stressed the importance that women feel safe while out and not live in fear. Shayla finished her race as the only Woman from the Vermont Tech team.
Full results can be found here https://www.secondwindtiming.com/result-page/?id=218429
