NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona College cross country program opened up the 2017 season this morning as both the men’s and women’s teams earned second place finishes that included senior Daniele Martino taking first place overall to lead the women’s effort.
Martino averaged a 5:50.7 mile time throughout the 5,000 meter course at Vassar College to finish at 18:09.6 to be three seconds ahead of LIU Post senior Tayla Williams. The clocking also represented a cross country 5k personal record for the senior. Kaitlyn Ohrtman ran her first cross country meet for the Gaels today, earning fourth place behind a 18:23.4 finish. Additionally, Kara McKenna edged her previous personal best by exactly one second with a time of 19:22.9.
Sophomore Ehab El-Sandali led the men with a second place showing of 18:52.7 on the 6k course, averaging a mile time of 5:03.8 in his debut race. He was narrowly edged out by Dietrich Mosel of Marist who recorded a winning time of 18:51.5. Christian Alberico and Edward Hayfron finished back-to-back in eighth and ninth place with respective times 19:27.8 and 19:35.3. The race marked a cross country debut for Hayfron.
The next meet on the schedule for the Maroon & Gold will be the Br. John “Paddy” Doyle Meet of Champions on Friday, September 15. The race, hosted by the Gaels, will take place at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx starting at 10:00 am.