POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Siena Cross Country commenced its 2022 season by sending 19 student athletes to run at the Marist Season Opener at Vassar Farm in Poughkeepsie, New York Saturday morning. The event marked the first of seven scheduled meets for the Saints this fall.

The men placed third out of six competing programs in the 6K, with sophomores Luke Tkaczyk (19:43.2) and Jackson Cayward (19:44.8) leading the way to place 11^th and 12^th, respectively. Classmate Chris Bertola (19:52.4) took 16^th place, while juniors Jimmy Smith (19:53.4) and Ben Guerin (19:54.8) finished in 17^th and 19^th to round out the team's top-five.

The Siena women placed fifth out of seven competitors in the 5K, with senior Delia McDade Clay (19:01.8) leading the way with a ninth-place finish. Junior Katharine Hesler (19:51.3) took 20^th place, while sophomore Lizzie Brown (20:21.2), sophomore Claire Gardner (20:13.7), and senior Sophia Vinciguerra (20:34.1) logged 24^th, 27^th, and 32^nd place finishes, respectively to finish the top-five on the women's side.

Host team Marist claimed the team title on the men's side, with MAAC rival Iona finishing second and Manhattan taking fourth. UConn claimed the team victory in the women's race, with MAAC counterparts Marist (second), Iona (third), and Manhattan (sixth) also participating.

The entirety of the Saints' roster will be in action next weekend, when the team hosts the fifth annual Siena Cross Country Invitational on Saturday, September 10 at 9:45 at The Crossings of Colonie.