Lakers Take Second in 2019 MSAC Championship

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. – The Finger Lakes Community College Men's Cross Country team competed in the 2019 Mid-State Athletic Conference Championship on Saturday on their home course.

The Lakers took second overall as a team with 46 points. They had two runners place in the top seven which earned them a spot on the MSAC All-Conference team. John Peresan placed seventh with a time of 31:32.14, and Hunter Brignall placed first with a time of 28:24.74.

Brignall placing first not only guaranteed him a spot on the MSAC All-Conference team, but it earned him the title of the 2019 MSAC Runner of the Year.

Head Coach Jayden Donahue was voted by his peers as the 2019 MSAC Coach of the Year.

After the award ceremony, Brignall had a few things to say about the day.

"It was kind of a cold one and I was a little worried because I haven't really been racing in different temperatures, so it was a little bit different," said Brignall. "I had kind of the same mindset as I did in the last time I raced here so it was kind of the same goal."

Brignall had some runners right on his tail after the first mile, but eventually extended his lead quite a bit at the end. "At about mile two is where I started building a gap and I tried to do it on the downhill," stated Brignall.

Coach Donahue had some positive thoughts about the day as well. "Our guys really laid everything out there, they did a really good job," said Donahue. "It was a tough race against SUNY Broome and we're going to be coming for them next weekend at the Region III Championship."

The Lakers look to grab the NJCAA Region III Championship this upcoming Saturday. They will race again on their home course at 11:45am. The Women will race at 11:00am.