Kutztown University Athletics

Chris Sponagle/Kutztown University

Women's Cross Country 09.15.23 Connor Donohue, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Three Golden Bears finish top ten as women’s cross country finishes third at KU DII/DII Challenge

KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- Erika Moriarty (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown), Deandra Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg), and Jaelyn D'Amelio (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional) all turned in top ten finishes as the Kutztown University women's cross country team finished third on home turf at the KU DII/DIII Challenge Friday afternoon.

Moriarty finished 5th on the day, followed by Young in 8th, and D'Amelio in 10th. Ava Bendetti (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) made a strong push at the end, earning a 18th-place finish. Freshman Sage Dunkleberger (Watsontown, Pa./Warrior Run) crossed the line in 27th with a solid time of 26:21.7.

Fiona Buffington (Landenberg, Pa./Avon Grove), Julianna Elsesser (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland), and Madeline Barney (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) rounded out the Golden Bears to compete on the day. Buffington and Elsesser finished two seconds apart in 44th and 45th place, with Barney coming across the line in 48th.

It was a close race at the top, with Bloomsburg earning first-place with only two points less then second-place Shippensburg. Millersville, DeSales, Stevenson, Wilmington (Del.), Shepherd, Georgian Court, and Gwynedd-Mercy finished in order behind KU.

The Golden Bears have two weeks off before taking place in the Paul Short Run hosted by Lehigh. That race will take place on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 2:30 p.m.

KU DII/DIII Challenge
Friday, Sept. 15 | Kutztown, Pa.
6,000m | 89 runners

KUTZTOWN RESULTS
Team: 3rd/10 (68 pts.)

5. Erika Moriarty (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown), 24:38.9
8. Deandra Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg), 24:46.4
10. Jaelyn D'Amelio (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional), 25:01.7
18. Ava Bendetti (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland), 25:56.2
27. Sage Dunkleberger (Watsontown, Pa./Warrior Run), 26:21.7
44. Fiona Buffington (Landenberg, Pa./Avon Grove), 27:16.6
45. Julianna Elsesser (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland), 27:18.9
48. Madeline Barney (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills), 27:42.0

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Players Mentioned

Madeline Barney: 5' 1"; Redshirt Junior

Ava Bendetti: 5' 5"; Junior

Jaelyn D'Amelio: 5' 4"; Senior

Julianna Elsesser: 5' 4"; Senior

Erika Moriarty: 5' 2"; Junior

Deandra Young: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Fiona Buffington: 5' 2"; Freshman

Sage Dunkleberger: 5' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Madeline Barney
: 5' 1"; Redshirt Junior

Ava Bendetti
: 5' 5"; Junior

Jaelyn D'Amelio
: 5' 4"; Senior

Julianna Elsesser
: 5' 4"; Senior

Erika Moriarty
: 5' 2"; Junior

Deandra Young
: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Fiona Buffington
: 5' 2"; Freshman

Sage Dunkleberger
: 5' 6"; Freshman