NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – After running in five grueling meets this season, the Niagara University cross country teams travel to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships Friday at Van Cortlandt Park, N.Y. The men kick things off with the 8,000-meter event at 2:30 p.m. while the women run a 6,000-meter race at 3:20 p.m.

The Niagara women are led by senior Tatyana Sapaleva (New Hartford, N.Y.), junior Julie Dickhans (Sewickley, Pa.) and sophomore Patricia Rich (Orchard Park, N.Y.). Sapaleva finished in the top 10 in the last two races, posting her best time of the season in the Titan Invitational where she placed sixth with a time of 19:42. Dickhans won back-to-back-to-back Little Three Meet individual crowns with a time of 19:11, and was the team’s top finisher in all five races this season. Rich has run in the last three meeting with her best finish coming in the Little Three when she placed third in a season-best 20:32.

For the men, freshman Mark Kopecki (Niskayuna, N.Y.) was the Purple Eagles’ top runner in four events and won the Little Three title in 27:49. Senior Jon Lacki (Grand Island, N.Y.) runs his final MAAC Championship race after finishing fifth at the Little Three meet. Freshman Colin Durina (Poland, Ohio) has two top-20 finishes in the last three meets, placing fourth at the Little Three and 19th at the UB Open.

Last year, the women placed fifth in the 6K race with 132 points, their highest finish ever at the MAAC Championships. With 202 points in the 8K event, the men finished in seventh, their best finish since 1995.

Dickhans was the Purple Eagles top finisher on the women’s team, placing 10th place with a time of 23:29.9, while Rich finished 13th (23:51.9) and Sapaleva crossed the line in 16th (24:00.2).

On the men’s side, Lacki led the Purple Eagles through the 8K course in a time of 27:15, finishing in 29th place. Joe Hughes (Kenmore, N.Y./Kenmore) finished six spots back of Lacki, in 32nd (27:33.8).