2010 Season in Review

Making Strides: Ever-Improving Panthers Finish Strong
Walker Named All-Skyline

Purchase, NY (Nov. 18, 2010) – The Purchase College men’s and women’s cross country teams excelled under first-year head coach Daniela Georgieva this fall.

Among the highlights, the Panthers each finished second at the Brooklyn Invitational and recorded a pair of strong finishes in their own invite early in the fall.

Purchase finished the season by running seventh on the men’s side and fifth on the women’s side in the Skyline Conference Championships before putting together a solid showing in the highly competitive ECACs in Rhode Island.

The women were paced by returning All-Skyline selection Colleen Walker, who garnered All-Skyline First-Team Honors at championships. St. Joseph's College placed three runners in the top six, edging Mount Saint Mary College for the 2010 Skyline women's cross country title.  

Jessica Phumalee and Sara Ricci rounded out the top three finishers for Purchase at championships.

“As a whole the women’s team ran faster than they ever run before (in championships),” Georgieva said. “I am very proud of them because they showed a lot of dedication and they did their best.”

Georgieva’s leadership, along with the presence of a standout recruiting class in her first campaign, made things interesting this fall.

Purchase welcomed three freshmen on the men’s side, including standout Jonathan Biber, while the women’s roster grew from a year ago, welcoming back Walker and fellow standouts Phumalee and Ricci among a handful of up-and-comers. 

The Purchase men were paced by Zach Wilson and Julian Norton at championships. The Panthers missed rookie standout Biber, who could not run due to injury. Fellow newcomer and two-sport athlete Michael McNair provided a boost for Purchase late in the season.

The ever-improving Panthers return most of their roster next fall.

-Bobby Ciafardini SID

2010 Meet Recaps:
Walker, Wilson Led Way at ECACs
Walker Dominant as Panthers Run 5th, 7th at Skylines
Panthers Dazzle at Brooklyn Invite
Panthers Overcome Hurdles at MSMC
Panthers Run 7th, 8th at Bard
Homecoming: Panthers Run Strong in Own Invite
Biber, Walker Shine at Vassar

2010-11 News:
Phumalee Wins Gilman International Scholarship
All-Skyline Walker Grabs HR Recognition
Walker Tabbed Runner of Week After First Career Win
Wilson, Walker Run Away with HR Mentions
Biber, Walker Named to Honor Roll
Biber Rookie of the Week; Walker HR