Race Preview: Penn State Greater Allegheny Invitational
McKeesport, Pa – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Cross Country team is back in action Saturday September 16th at 10 a.m. when they take part in the 6th annual Penn State Greater Allegheny Invitational.
In last season’s PSUGA Invitational, Fernando Leira (Madrid, Spain/Great Mills (md.)) would pace the PSUGA Cross Country runners coming in 17th overall out of 52 total runners with a time of 32:35. He was followed close behind by former Lion Michael Risnear who finished 25th overall with a time of 33:35 over the 8K course. Despite the great times posted by Leira and Risnear, PSUGA did not crack the top three in the event.
This season, Leira is back and has already shown signs of success here in the 2017/18 season. PSUGA Cross Country participated in their first race of the season on Saturday September 9th when they ran in the Westmoreland County Community College Invitational. Leira came in 22nd overall in that race with a time of 20:15, a personal best for Leira at PSUGA, over the 5.1K course.
This year’s PSUGA invitational features 12 teams taking part in the contest. The women will run a 5K course (3.1 miles) and the men will run an 8K course (5 miles) that will take them through the rolling hills of the Penn State Greater Allegheny campus. The 12 teams that are competing in Saturday’s contest include:
Truett-McConnell
Carlow
Westmoreland County Community College
Community College of Allegheny County
Frostburg State
Community College of Beaver County
PSU-Dubois
PSU-Fayette
PSU-Greater Allegheny
Pitt Club Team
Kent State-Tuscarawas
Penn Highlands
The race is set to begin at 10 a.m. down by the Giant Eagle located at 3812 Oneil Blvd. After the race there will be a banquet dinner in the Ostermayer building on campus that is set to begin at approximately 11:30 a.m.