* Complete Results

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Wet, blustery and cold conditions made the Moakley Course even more challenging than normal on Friday, but it didn't stop one of the largest field sizes in the history of the John Reif Memorial Run from competing.  In a field of six teams with over 150 runners racing in the 5K and 5 mile races, Cornell athletes competed well as the Big Red got in a final race before next week's Heps.

The men's 5K was won by Nick Wade '13, running unattached, in 16:48.7, a good time on a slow day.  Nana Sang Bender, a standout for Syracuse University the past four years and also competing unattached, won the women's 5K in 18:28.8.  Sophomore Christine Smith was the first Cornellian to cross the finish line, placing fourth in 19:42.5.  Cornell had three others in the top ten:  Junior Lauren Bariexca was 8th in 19:58.7, senior Caroline Heidt was 9th in 20:02.9 and sophomore Janel Parker was 10th in 20:10.3.

In the men's 5 mile, Zach Hine '09 placed first in 25:49.9 with Sam Luff '09 placing fourth in 26:43.5 as the recent grads returned to competition in Ithaca.  The first current Cornellian to cross the line was freshman Adam Troffa, who was fifth in 26:45.5; sophomore Chandler Kemp was a very close sixth in 26:46.1.  After leading the Cornell charge much of the way, junior Drew Hart slipped and fell twice in the treacherous Gorge and ended up ninth in 26:53.2.

Complete results can be found at:
http://cornellbigred.com/documents/2009/10/23/2009%20Reif%20Results.pdf?id=2346

Next up for Cornell is the Cross Country Heps, which will return to Van Cortlandt Park on Friday, October 30.  The women race first at 11:15 AM and the men compete at 12:15 PM.