RIT senior Matt Giannino, the Atlantic Region Runner of the Year, earned the Liberty League's top honor following an All-America performance at the NCAA Division III Championship.
Giannino, Page earn top honors as Liberty League announces Men's XC Awards
2014 Liberty League Men's Cross Country Awards
RUNNER OF THE YEAR: Matt Giannino, RIT, Sr., Syracuse, N.Y.
A two-time Liberty League individual champion, RIT senior Matt Giannino became his school's first All-American in cross country since 2006 as he finished 35th out of 280 runners at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship. Giannino won five of seven meets in which he competed while earning Liberty League Performer of the Week honors on five occasions. He was selected as the Atlantic Region Runner of the Year after finishing first in a field of 285 runners as the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship in Rochester. In addition to his second straight Liberty League title, Giannino also won the Oswego Invitational, the Oberlin Inter-Regional Rumble and the SUNY Geneseo Invitational.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Evan Page, St. Lawrence, Fr., Plattsburgh, N.Y.
St. Lawrence University freshman Evan Page was selected as the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. The Liberty League's top freshman finisher at the Liberty League Championship, finishing 22nd in a time of 26:41. Page was the only rookie runner to place in the top 25 at the league championship. A five-time selection as Liberty League rookie of the week, he was the league's top freshman finisher and second freshman across the line (12th overall) at the NYSCTC Championship.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: St. Lawrence University – John Newman, Head Coach; Kate Curran, Assistant Coach
St. Lawrence University head coach John Newman led the Saints to their 20th consecutive Liberty League title, the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship and a 10th-place finish at the NCAA Division III Championship. The NCAA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year, Newman's team did not lose a Division III meet during the season, which included wins at the Plattsburgh Invitational, Saratoga Invitational, Ronald C. Hoffmann Invitational, and NYSCTC Championship. The Saints were second among Division III teams in the Men's Gold race at the Paul Short Invitational. Newman is assisted by Kate Curran.
FIRST TEAM ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE:
Jacob Andrews, Sr., RPI
Thomas Caulfield, So., St. Lawrence
Benjamin Fazio, So., RPI
Matt Giannino, Sr., RIT
Wesley Kirui, Jr., St. Lawrence
Spencer Patterson, Jr., St. Lawrence
Joe Smith, So., St. Lawrence
SECOND TEAM ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE:
Andrew Bernardo, Sr., RIT
Trevor Bibb, Sr., St. Lawrence
Brian Crowley, So., RPI
Adam Merkwan, Sr., Clarkson
Bobby Parker, Jr., RPI
Harrison Sloan, Jr., St. Lawrence
Scott Smolensky, Sr., Sr. Lawrence
Benjamin Fishbein, So., St. Lawrence