NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – After heading to the Bronx for the MAAC Championships, both Niagara cross country teams will head back to Van Cortlandt Park on Friday for the NCAA regionals.
 
The Purple Eagles faced a challenge right out of the gate in the Conference event; it was the first time the team had to compete in Van Cortlandt Park.  The team was able to get a look at the course briefly before the event with a walkthrough.
 
The Purple Eagles women's team, who sent seven runners to the event, finished eighth in the MAAC Championships.  Kim Vona tackled the new course in 23:08 and finished in tenth to medal for the second-consecutive year.  Stephanie Schmidt also finished in the top-40 with a 24:37.  The rest of the runners on the women's side grouped up to finish between the 24- and 28-minute mark.
 
The men's team finished in 10^th place and was led by senior Sam Reedy.   Reedy, who finished with a 27:59, has led the team in four of the five races he has competed in this season.  The rest of the men's squad all finished within less than two minutes of each other with Jordan Bender turning in a 28:06 and Matt Pond finishin in 29:48.