As he has done all year, sophomore Alex Benway (Queensbury, NY) was the Clarkson University Cross Country team’s top runner as he paced the Golden Knights’ efforts at the 2009 NCAA Atlantic Regional race at Letchworth State Park on Saturday afternoon.

Benway placed 72nd overall out of a field of 264 runners in the men’s 8,000-mter race with a time of 26:54.4. The Clarkson men finished 20th out of 38 teams with 589 points. Peter Kosgei was the men’s champion with a time of 24:40.6. Cortland claimed the men's title with 49 points.

Sophomore Maureen Hill (Latham, NY) led the Golden Knight women, finishing 128th (25:27.6) in the 6,000-meter race. Wendy Pavlus led St. Lawrence to the women’s team title with a first-place time of 21:22.0.

Sophomore Matt Gammariello (Webster, NY) claimed a spot in the first 100 runners with a time of 27:32.5 for 100th-place among the men.

Senior Andrew Nadeau (Irondequoit, NY) placed 121st (27:52.3), sophomore Neal Campbell (Queensbury, NY) finished 128th (27:58.5) and freshman Russ Seidel (Binghamton, NY) came in 168th (28:40.5).

Sophomore Audrey Keene (Hilton, NY) was Clarkson’s second top runner in the women’s race, placing 184th (26:54.5).  Sophomore Bethann Parmelee (Waverly, NY) came in 187th (27:06.5), followed by freshman Rachel Bachman (Queensbury, NY) in 188th (27:07.6). Freshman Jessica Hernandez (Owego, NY) rounded out the Green and Gold top 10 runners in 198th (27:34.2).