Lord, Livernois earn top honors in Liberty League Women's Cross Country
2016 Liberty League Women's Cross Country Awards
RUNNER OF THE YEAR: Jaime Lord, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Jr., Stony Point, N.Y.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute junior Jaime Lord was selected as the 2016 Liberty League Runner of the Year following a season in which she earned All-America honors. One of two Liberty League runners to earn All-America honors, Lord finished 19th in a field of 280 runners at the NCAA Division III Championship, helping her team finish 18th. She was also the league's top individual finisher at the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship, finishing third in the field of 304. Second individually at the Liberty League Championship, Lord won the Saratoga Invitational during the regular season. A four-time selection as Liberty League Performer of the Week, Lord also earned a spot on the league's All-Academic Team.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Leah Livernois, St. Lawrence, FY, Norwood, N.Y.
St. Lawrence University first-year runner Leah Livernois was a unanimous selection of the coaches as Liberty League Rookie of the Year. A five-time selection as Liberty League Rookie of the Week, Livernois was the top first-year finisher at both the Liberty League and NCAA Atlantic Region Championships. Livernois earned All-Liberty League honors with an eighth-place finish at the league meet. She finished 20th at the NCAA Regional, helping St. Lawrence to a sixth-place team finish (43 teams) and a ninth straight berth in the NCAA Division III Championship meet. Livernois was the seventh first-year finisher at the national championship meet.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – John Lynch, Head Coach
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute head coach John Lynch and his staff earned Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year honors in women's cross country. Lynch guided his team to a second straight Liberty League championship. The Engineers placed five runners in the top 10 in compiling 30 team points. RPI was also the league’s top team at the NCAA Atlantic Regional, placing third in the field of 43 teams, which earned the Engineers an at-large berth to the NCAA Division III Championship. At the national championship, RPI placed 18th, while junior Jaime Lord finished 19th individually, earning All-America honors. Lynch is assisted by Kailyn Balzano and Nick Marcantonio.
FIRST TEAM ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE:
Karina Bolton, So., RPI
Madeline Dery, Sr., RPI
Caroline Driscoll, So., St. Lawrence
Emma Jones, Sr., RIT
Megan Kellogg, Jr., St. Lawrence
Jaime Lord, Jr., RPI
Mary West, Sr., RPI
SECOND TEAM ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE:
Lucy Balcezak, Sr., Vassar
Alison Davis, So., Clarkson
Leah Livernois, Fr., St. Lawrence
Rebecca Schwan, So., RIT
Andrea Squeri, Fr., RPI
Maddie Sturm, Fr., RPI
Allison Thayer, Sr., RPI
* All-Liberty League based on place finish at Liberty League Championship