THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (Oct. 13, 2009) – The Skyline Conference announced on Monday that Maritime College freshmen Luke Milano (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) and Kristen Saporito had been named Conference Rookies of the Week for their performances at the NJIT Invitational last Sunday. The recognition marks the fourth time in four weeks that a Maritime men's freshman has been named Rookie of the Week and the first time a Maritime women's runner has ever won the award.

 

The accolade also marks the second time this season Milano has been recognized as the conference's top freshman. Milano led the Privateers to a fifth place finish in the Highlander meet on Sunday when he finished 17th in a field of 121 runners. His time of 28:25 over the nearly five mile course was only 1:32 slower than the school record held by Shawn D'Andrea, who ran 26:53 in the ECAC Championship in 2005.

 

Saporito earned the women's Rookie of the Week by virtue of her 30th place finish in a field of 75 runners. Saporito covered the 5000 meter course (3.1 miles) in a time of 23:11, averaging 7:27 per mile.  Teammate Laura Wasson was also named to the Skyline Conference Women's Honor Roll as a result of her 12th place finish at the Highlander meet. Wasson ran the 3.1 mile course in the outstanding time of 21:17 (6:51 per mile average).

 

“The Maritime freshmen continue to impress”, stated men's head coach Jim Driscoll. “Both Milano and Saporito ran exceptional races and both have eventual shots at breaking the school records if they continue to work hard.”

 

The men's and women's cross country teams return to the course this Sunday when they compete in the Hunter Invitational at Van Cortlandt Park. The women's race will start at 10 a.m. and the men will follow at 10:45 a.m.