2012 Digital Publication
The Fairfield University men’s and women’s cross country team will open their 2012 campaign on Saturday, September 1 at the Marist College Invitational at Bowdoin Park in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The Stags will compete against the host Red Foxes and Iona College. The women’s race is slated for 8:30am with the men following at 9:15am.
The Stags are coming off a strong 2011 campaign in which the men’s team placed fourth at the MAAC Championships, third at the IC4A Championships, and won both the Leeber and O’Neil Invitationals. The women’s cross country team placed sixth at the MAAC Championships and captured the O’Neil Invitational.
The men’s team returns 11 harriers from last year’s squad including captains Kyle Short and Howie Rosas, who was the Stags top-finisher three times last year. The Stags also return sophomore Connor Kelley, who was Fairfield’s top-finisher in four races, and sophomore Jake Ruskan who placed 15th overall at the MAAC Championships. The Stags welcome four freshmen in Chris Calitri, Nick Carapezza, Dan DeBlock, and Frank Segreto.
On the women’s side, Fairfield returns 10 runners from last season including captains Molly Leidig and Sam Goodnow, who is ready for a solid senior campaign. The Stags also return sophomore Maureen Crimmins who was the first Stag across the line in five races last season. Sophomores Kelsey Murphy and Maggie MacKenzie, who joined the Stags in the spring, and freshmen Nora Garrity, Deirdre Simms, and Allie Thoms and will embark on their first cross country.
Also joining the Stags for his first season is Jack Maloney who joins the program as an assistant coach. Before coming to Fairfield, Maloney spent three years as an assistant coach for the track and field program at Fordham University. Prior to his arrival at Fordham, Maloney spent more than 25 years at Southern Connecticut State University, including 11 as the men's head coach. During that time, he led the Owls to 14 consecutive Northeast-10 Conference track and field championships.
After their season opener at Marist, Fairfield heads to the Iona Meet of Champions on September 15 and hosts the Leeber Invitational on September 22. The Stags travel to the New England Championships on October 7 before returning home to host the O’Neil Invitational on October 13.
The Stags will travel to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. for the 2012 MAAC Championships. Fairfield then heads to Hammonasset State Park in Madison, Conn. to co-host the 2012 NCAA Regionals on November 9. The Stags conclude the year at the ECAC/IC4A Championships on November 17 at VanCortlandt Park.
