ONEONTA, N.Y. - The Hartwick cross country teams are headed to the Empire 8 Championships on Saturday, November 1st, with the men's 8k scheduled for an 11:00 am start time, while the women's 6k will commence at noon.
The 2025 Empire 8 Cross Country Championship will be hosted by St. John Fisher University at the Murphy Field Cross Country Course.
The women's team– after having placed seventh in championship competition for the past three seasons– look to improve in the standings. Leading them is standout senior Brynita Haas, who has posted several dominant finishes in the regular season.
"We plan on sending Haas after All-Conference honors. Haas has been followed by Julia Weinschrider (Williamson, N.Y.), who has had impressive performances recently and will greatly affect our team placement," says Head Coach Nathan Crews. "The next four ladies– Amelia Steitz (Fairport, N.Y.), Emilia Murphy (Amsterdam, N.Y.), Liliana Van De Water (King Ferry, N.Y.), and Addison Shank (Emmaus, Pa.)– I believe can run together this weekend, which would definitely secure our team's position."
The men's team will look to improve upon an 8th place finish from last year, with newcomer Avery Lungstrom (Bel Air, Md.) and junior Erik Higgins (Buffalo, N.Y.) leading the charge.
"Both of these gentlemen put up strong ties at the Golden Bear Invitational, running under the 30 minute mark. Multiple men running under 30 minutes is not something our men's team has seen since the previous Empire 8 championship," Crews says. "Following the leaders are Larry McCumiskey (Delhi, N.Y.), Devon Spalding (Mineola, N.Y.), and Basil Metz (Highland, N.Y.), who I believe are also capable of a sub-30 minute 8k. While the Fisher course isn't necessarily fast that level of fitness will show in the later stages of the race."
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2024 Empire 8 Cross Country Championship Schedule
Saturday, November 1st
Men's Championship (8,000-meters) – 11:00 am
Women's Championship (6,000-meters) – 12:00 pm
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For more information on this year's championship, visit the Empire 8 website.
About Hartwick College:
Hartwick, often referred to as The Life Balance College, is a private liberal arts and sciences institution in Oneonta, N.Y. Through its distinctive FlightPath approach, Hartwick blends academic excellence, career preparation and an active campus life to help students achieve a balanced and fulfilling college experience. With transparent tuition and a focus on health and wellness, Hartwick prepares students for lifelong success—both professionally and personally.
