BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Cornell women cruised to victory for the second consecutive weekend, this time taking first place at the 10-team Buffalo Stampede, scoring a winning total of 20 points behind a 1-2-3 finish and seven of the top 11 places overall.

For the second straight weekend, freshman Genna Hartung was the individual winner, crossing the line in 17:57 for 5K; senior captain Stephanie Pancoast was second in 18:01 while freshman Katie Kellner was third in 18:17.

The top five Cornell women were out well at the mile, comfortably clear of the field in a split of 5:36.  Pancoast took control in the second mile with Hartung, Kellner, senior Erin Roberts and freshman Kelsey Karys in close pursuit. With a second mile of 5:45, Pancoast and Hartung opened up a gap with Hartung eventually crossing the line first in the second-best time ever run on the Beaver Island State Park course, producing another fine competitive effort. In placing second, Pancoast ran an impressive 90 seconds faster than her last race on this course in 2006, and crossed the line with the course's fourth-fastest time ever. After Kellner's strong third place run, senior Erin Roberts was fifth in 18:25, 50 seconds better than her previous race here in 2006. Junior Maura Carroll came on strong to close out Cornell's scoring five, placing ninth in a personal best 18:38. Karys competed well again to place 10 in 18:39. Freshman Cara Costich had another good race, rounding out Cornell's top seven with a time of 18:41 in 11th.

The University of Akron placed second with 44 points while host Buffalo was third at 88 points and St. Francis was fourth with 100 points.

The Big Red displayed tremendous depth as well, as the squad took fifteen of the top 25 places in the 120-woman field. Also running very well were sophomores Meghan Brown (14th, 18:52) and Emma Clarke (15th, 19:04), junior Kristin Sellers (16th, 19:07 - a PR), sophomore Shelby Herman (17th, 19:08), junior Lauren Bariexca (19th, 19:16), sophomore Christine Curtis (21st, 19:23), senior Caroline Heidt (22nd, 19:27) and sophomore Christine Smith (24th, 19:37).

Complete results can be found at:
http://www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/crosscountry/stats/2009/stampede-women-09-18-2009.html

Next up for the Big Red is the Paul Short Run at Lehigh on Friday, October 2nd, a nationally competitive meet in which both the Cornell men and women will race.