WEST POINT, N.Y. -- The Cornell cross country squads opened their 2008 campaigns in impressive fashion, putting together strong team and individual performances on Friday at West Point, NY as the Big Red defeated Army in the men's and women's competitions. Both teams demonstrated remarkable depth as well as fine running up-front, as sophomore Adrien Dannemiller and junior Stephanie Pancoast took individual honors. Competing in a steady downpour on the very challenging ski slope at the Army golf course, the harriers still managed to put together impressive performances.

In the women's 5K, the pace was not fast early, but things heated up after 2K with Army's Ashley Morgan taking the lead. She was followed closely by a group of over ten Cornellians. Heading up the ski slope for the second time, the trio of senior Marie Parks, senior Fiona Cundy and Pancoast moved into the top three spots of the race. Pancoast raced well down the final stretch to take first in 18:24, over 70 seconds faster than two years ago, the last time the meet was held on this course. Parks was next across in 18:26, a 95+ second personal best on the course and Cundy was less than a second behind in 18:27, nearly three minutes faster than two years ago! Senior captain Aeriel Emig ran a very good race to place fifth in 18:39, nearly a minute faster than 2006 and sophomore Kim Standridge rounded out the top five in 18:46 to place sixth overall. Classmate Katie Sullivan was seventh in 18:49. The Big Red took nine of the top ten overall with freshmen Meghan Brown (8th, 18:50) and Christine Smith (9th, 18:56) and sophomore Maura Carroll (10th, 19:01) all running very well. Enjoying a 22 second spread from their first through fifth runners, the Big Red had only 26 seconds separating its top seven. With three seniors in the top four and six of the top ten freshmen and sophomores, the team displayed a very good blend of experience and youth.

The men were off first and the Cadets led the charge through the first two loops of the course. The pace was far from demanding but the Big Red bided their time before taking control at 4K as the runners ascended the ski slope for the second time. Dannemiller made a strong move uphill and never relinquished the lead, cruising to victory in 26:55 for the 8K course as the Big Red swept the top six places. Junior Charlie Hatch was patient early and moved his way through the pack to nab runner-up honors with 27:02, over 30 seconds faster than his run on the same course two years ago. Senior Andy Miller was right behind in 27:03 and senior captain Sam Luff was next in 27:08 (nearly 45 seconds better than 2006). Sophomore Max Kasak closed out the Cornell scoring with the first top-5 performance of his career with a time of 27:10 and classmate Nate Edelman finished in 27:17.  Junior Pete Loy was 8th overall, and the 7th Cornell finisher, in 27:22. With a tight 15 second spread between the first five runners, the Big Red ran a good team race to win 15-49.

The Cornell women compete in a week at the Iona Meet of Champions at New York's Van Cortlandt Park. The women race at 9:30 AM on Saturday, Sept. 20. Both the men and the women will be in action at Lehigh's Paul Short Run on Friday, October 3.