MIDDLETOWN, Pa- Penn State Harrisburg's cross country team made school history on Saturday, Nov. 12.  Senior Jenifer Carricato (Dillsburg, PA/Carlisle) and freshman Rosanny Reyes (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin East) became the first Lion runners to take part in the NCAA's Division III Mid-East regional race in Center Valley, PA when they competed against over 300 runners.

Carricato finished 311th with a time of 31:06 while Reyes' time of 36:19 was good enough for 333rd place.  The ladies' participation in the regional contest capped off a memorable 2011 campaign for the blue and white.

Earlier this fall, the Lions played host in the second annual Penn State Harrisburg cross country invitational.  Sophomore Jordan Heisey (Mechanicsburg, PA/Mechanicsburg) finished third for the men while senior Lauren Cassidy (Lancaster, PA/Hempfield) and sophomore Alisha House (Crownpoint, NM/Thoreau) finished fourth and fifth in the women's race.

At the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) championship held earlier this month at SUNY Cobleskill, Heisey once again finished highest for the Lion men with a time of 32:37.  Freshman Diedrich Farber (McClure, PA/Selinsgrove) and senior Michael Janze (Fredericksburg, PA/Anrietown) weren't far behind him with times of 34:14 and 34:55, respectively.  The women made a statement as well as all of Penn State Harrisburg's runners finished the race in less than 30 minutes on their way to an overall team finish of sixth.

First year head coach Mary Waechter entered this season with more questions than answers as only two runners returned on the men's side and the women started the year with a roster full of newcomers.  With 2011 now in the books, four men are eligible to return next season while five ladies will make up a solid nucleus come 2012.