NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Behind the ninth-place finish of junior Julie Dickhans (Sewickley, Pa.) and the 17th-place finish of sophomore Mark Kopecki (Niskayuna, N.Y.) the Niagara University men’s and women’s cross country teams placed sixth at the 2006 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship at Van Cortlandt Park, N.Y.

The finish for the men’s team was the highest since 1995 and the women’s was one back of last year’s fifth-place finish.

Both Dickhans and Kopecki improved their finishes and times. Dickhans ran a career-best 22:50.5 over the 6K course while Kopecki ran a personal-best 26:35.4. Last year Dickhans finished 10th and Kopecki 47th.

Senior Tatyana Sapaleva (New Hartford, N.Y.) and freshman Chelsea Usack (Horseheads, N.Y.) placed 28th and 29th in 23:56.6 and 23:58.4, respectively. Sophomore Patricia Rich (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) was 33rd (24:11.9), freshman Jill Snopkowski (Torrington, Conn.) 73rd (26:01.2), rookie Liz Smyth (Cicero, N.Y.) 82nd (26:25.9) and junior Katie Tees (Clay, N.Y.) 98th (27:22.0).

Senior Jon Lacki (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) placed 26th in 27:05.7, bettering last year’s time and place. Freshman Colin Durina (Poland, Ohio) was 30th (27:09.8), junior John Tees (Clay, N.Y.) 40th (27:43.9), sophomore John Sarratori (Newfane, N.Y.) 52nd (28:12.3), freshman Corey Brown (Batavia, N.Y.) 55th (28:23.5), sophomore Will West (North Tonawanda, N.Y./Niagara-Wheatfield) 63rd (28:42.3), senior Darius Bessette (Longmeadow, Mass.) 71st (28:55.5) and freshman Matt Kristan (Mahopac, N.Y.) 81st (29:29.1).

Niagara returns to action Nov. 11 when it competes in the NCAA Regional at Van Cortlandt Park.