Kutztown University Athletics

Women's Cross Country 11.17.22 Connor Donohue, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

PREVIEW | Golden Bears ready to battle for the regional crown at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships

KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- After a 2022 season of success, the Kutztown University women's cross country team is looking for glory at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships at Mansfield on Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Bears, who were ranked sixth in the last U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Atlantic region rankings, are coming into the regionals after a strong showing at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships two weeks ago. KU finished in fifth place with three All-PSAC finishers.

"The women have come away with some great results this season," said head coach Ray Hoffman. " We seemed a little off at the PSAC Championships, but still placed pretty well."

Colleen Gilbert (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) and Sophia Knerr (Columbia, N.J./North Warren Regional) have been the dynamic duo for the Golden Bears in 2022 and were two of the KU runners to earn an All-PSAC finish two weeks ago. The two of them have been the top finishers for the Golden Bears in all but one meet this season. Gilbert finished in the top three in four meets this season, while Knerr has finished inside the top seven in all but two meets in 2022.

Erika Moriarty (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) is the other Golden Bear who earned All-PSAC honors at the championship meet. Moriarty slowly started to get her feet under her as the season went along, eventually finishing in the top 20 of the three previous meets. She's the only Golden Bear on the roster who has earned All-Region honors before, after becoming the first KU freshman since 2006 to finish in the all-region positions at last year's championships with a 10th-place finish.

The other four Golden Bears that will compete on Saturday are Madeline Barney (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills), Ava Bendetti (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland), Jaelyn D'Amelio (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional), and Mya Ostermiller (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South). They fill out the same KU lineup that has competed at all six meets so far this season.

The Golden Bears are no stranger to success in 2022. KU opened the season with three second-place finishes, followed up by two first-place finishes to end the regular season. Ray Hoffman's squad will look to carry that success into Saturday and into a top finish at this year's regionals.

"If we put things together on Saturday, we may surprise a lot of people," said Hoffman. "I don't think a top-five finish is out of their reach.

KU will hit the course at Mansfield at 12:45 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19.

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Players Mentioned

Madeline Barney: 5' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

Ava Bendetti: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Jaelyn D'Amelio: 5' 4"; Junior

Colleen Gilbert: 5' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore

Sophia Knerr: 5' 1"; Sophomore

Erika Moriarty: 5' 2"; Sophomore

Mya Ostermiller: 5' 1"; Senior

Players Mentioned

Madeline Barney
: 5' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

Ava Bendetti
: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Jaelyn D'Amelio
: 5' 4"; Junior

Colleen Gilbert
: 5' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore

Sophia Knerr
: 5' 1"; Sophomore

Erika Moriarty
: 5' 2"; Sophomore

Mya Ostermiller
: 5' 1"; Senior