O'Connor and Ferretter earn top honors in Liberty League Men's Cross Country
2017 Liberty League Men's Cross Country Awards
RUNNER OF THE YEAR: Grant O’Connor, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Jr., West Hartford, Conn.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute junior Grant O’Connor was selected as the Liberty League Runner of the Year. An All-American, O’Connor placed fourth at the NCAA Division III Championship in 24:19.35 on the 8K course. It was the second-straight All-America honor for O’Connor, who finished 25th as a sophomore. He was also named the Atlantic Region Athlete of the Year by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) after winning the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship in 24:14.5. O’Connor recorded four first-place finishes. In addition to the Atlantic Regional, he also cruised to the title at the Liberty League championship smashing the course and meet records, crossing the finish line at 24:55.9, good for a 16-second victory. He also placed first at the Connecticut College Invitational (24:32.4) and Saratoga Invitational.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Peter Ferretter, Vassar College, FY, Woodway, Texas
Vassar College first-year runner Peter Ferretter was chosen as the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. Ferretter established himself as one of the region’s top first-year runners. A two-team Liberty League Rookie of the Week selection, Ferretter was the top freshman finisher at the Liberty League Championship (26:54.1), placing 21st and earning All-Liberty League honorable mention status. Ferretter continued his strong rookie season at the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship, placing 42nd with a season-best time of 25:38.8. He was also the first freshman finisher at the regional, helping the Brewers to an eighth-place finish.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – John Lynch, Head Coach
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute head coach John Lynch and assistant coach Kailyn Balzano earned Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year honors in men's cross country. Lynch guided his team to a second straight Liberty League championship, a runner-up finish at the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship and a 14th-place finish at the NCAA Division III Championship. At the Liberty League meet, the Engineers placed all five runners in the top 14, earning 38 team points, good for a 13-point victory over runner-up St. Lawrence. The team’s 14th-place finish at the national championship meet marked the second straight top-15 finish for RPI. The Engineers won five meets on the season – Cardinal Classic (Plattsburgh State), Ron Stonisch (Vassar), Saratoga Invitational (RPI), Connecticut College and Liberty League.
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM:
1. Grant O’Connor – RPI, 24:55.9
2. Otto Kingstedt – RIT, 25:12.7
3. Sean O’Connor – RPI, 25:34.6
4. Dadley Ogetitii – St. Lawrence, 25:48.8
5. Sidi Abdoulaye – St. Lawrence, 25:54.7
6. James Bailey – RIT, 26:00.7
7. Patrick Mortensen – St. Lawrence, 26:10.9
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM:
8. Joe Domanico – RPI, 26:18.1
9. Forest Stewart – Ithaca, 26:18.7
10. Michael Scarlett – Vassar, 26:18.9
11. Philip Brown – Vassar, 26:22.3
12. Matthew Stewart – RPI, 26:24.3
13. Logan Mancuso – St. Lawrence, 26:30.3
14. James Anderson – RPI, 26:36.1
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION:
15. Noah Falasco, RPI - 26:42.6
16. Arden Kellner, Union - 26:46.1
17. Joe Pisacano, RPI - 26:47.6
18. Chris Tinti, Ithaca - 26:48.5
19. Jeff Montgomery, Ithaca - 26:51.2
20. Evan Feigel, RIT - 26:51.6
21. Peter Ferretter, Vassar – 26:54.1
* All-Liberty League based on place finish at Liberty League Championship