NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Purple Eagles Cross Country teams put in two good, strong runs but it wasn't enough, as they finished second in both the men's and the women's race at Veterans Memorial Park, just down the road from campus.

While Niagara came up short in both races, head coach Tom Mulhern was excited about the many positives coming from this race.

"I think that despite the result, we had a great day today," Mulhern said. "We had several runners clock in at strong times, as we head into the conference championships."

The men were looking strong, with Mike Trendell (Oriskany Falls, N.Y.) and Colin Durina (Poland, Ohio) coming in second and third place overall. Four Canisius guys got between Durina and Niagara's next finisher, John Sarratori (Newfane, N.Y.) who finished in eighth, with a time of 27:44. In just his second race as a Purple Eagle, Mounkalia Hamza (Naimey, Niger) shattered his old personal best of 34:06, finishing the 8-kilometer course in 30:08.

The women's team was led by Liz Smyth (Cicero, N.Y.), finishing eighth with a time of 20:22, her best showing of the season. Behind her was Chelsea Usack (Horseheads, N.Y.) finishing 10th, in a season-best 20:32 and Jill Snopkowski (Torrington, Conn.) in 20:57, finishing 11th.

Canisius won both the men's and the women's 2008 Little Three Team Championships.

Niagara is now off until Nov. 1, when its two teams travel to Florida to take part in the 2008 MAAC Championships.