Shugerman's Strong Start Leads PSUGA at Father Bede CC Invitational

Loretto, PA. - The Penn State Greater Allegheny Cross Country team put on a good showing in their season opener at the Father Bede CC Invitational on Friday. All three of PSUGA's runners competed as they kicked off the road to the Penn State University Athletic Conference Championships.

Junior Max Shugerman (Turtle Creek, PA./Woodland Hills HS) paced the men's team finishing 21st with a time of 26:35.1. Shugerman just missed qualifying for the United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Tournament running one of the toughest courses PSUGA had to face this season.

Eladia Kennedy (Pittsburgh, PA./Imani Christian Academy) competed on the women's side finishing 29th with a time of 30:08.3. It was the first time Kennedy competed in a Cross Country event and nearly broke the 30 minute mark giving her a lot of up side for the rest of the season.

Head Coach Greg Schmitt was pleased with his team's performance and is optimistic for the rest of the season. He says that Shugerman has a great chance to qualify for nationals and, with three more races before the PSUAC Championships on October 26th at PSU-Mont Alto.

PSUGA returns to action when they run in the Westmoreland County Community College Invitational on September 7th at 10 a.m.