NEW YORK — SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry freshman Abby Perez (Queens, N.Y.) was picked as the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Runner of the Year as the 2019 All-HVIAC Women's Cross Country Team was announced today.
Perez finished second overall in her first collegiate race and continued her strong start, finishing fifth overall out of over 200 runners at Roberts Wesleyan and came in first at the Hamilton College Invite while setting a new school record for 5K time (18:43), previously held by last year's HVIAC Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year Marissa Lathrop.
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences freshman Marina Duszak was named Rookie of the Year after a third-place finish at the HVIAC Championships helping the Panthers to their first team victory at the Championships since 2016.
Guiding SUNY ESF sophomore Rachel Joyce to an individual victory at the HVIAC Championships and leading the Mighty Oaks to defend their 2018 USCAA National Championship victory, head coach Mike Melfi and assistant coaches Todd Halbig and Hannah Anthes were named Coaching Staff of the Year.
The HVIAC Runner of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year are selected by the women's cross country coaches in the conference prior to the HVIAC Championships based on performance during the regular season.
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Amber Cina | Albany Pharmacy | Jr. | |
Toni Daino | SUNY ESF | Jr. | Johnson City, N.Y. |
Gianna D'Angelo *** | Albany Pharmacy | Sr. | Portland, Conn. |
Marina Duszak % | Albany Pharmacy | Fr. | |
Andrea Gil | Berkeley | Jr. | Paterson, N.J. |
Kathleen Hanrahan | Albany Pharmacy | Fr. | |
Monica Hayes | Berkeley | So. | Staten Island, N.Y. |
Rachel Joyce | SUNY ESF | So. | Wallingford, Conn. |
Patricia Romano | Albany Pharmacy | Fr. | |
Marcella Valencia | Berkeley | So. | Clifton, N.J. |
*** Denotes 2016, 2017, and 2018 All-Conference Team selection
% Denotes 2019 Rookie of the Year
Runner of the Year - Abby Perez (SUNY ESF)
Rookie of the Year - Marina Duszak (Albany Pharmacy)
Coaching Staff of the Year - Mike Melfi, Todd Halbig, Hannah Anthes (SUNY ESF)