CANTON, N.Y. – On Saturday, Nov. 15, the Plattsburgh State women's cross country team will compete at the NCAA Division III Mideast Region Championships hosted by St. Lawrence at the Ronald C. Hoffmann Cross Country Course. The six-kilometer women's race is set to begin at noon.

ABOUT THE 2024 NCAA DIVISION III MIDEAST REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS: Last year, Plattsburgh finished 20th overall with 594 points at the NCAA Division III Mideast Region Championships. Of the returners who competed last year, junior Grace Estus (Clifton Park, N.Y. / Shenendehowa) and senior Ginny Lucchetti (Marcellus, N.Y. / Marcellus) had the best finishes, recording times of 24:48.5 (111th) and 25:05.0 (119th), respectively.

Williams had two runners in the top 10 and captured the title with a score of 59 points.

ABOUT THE CARDINALS: The tandem of senior Marissa Colvin (South Glens Falls, N.Y. / South Glens Falls) and Estus has been the driving force of the Cardinals all season, as both have claimed the top finish for the Cardinals on multiple occasions. At the SUNYAC Championships, two weeks ago, it was no different as Colvin led the way and Estus followed to power the Cardinals to a fifth-place finish. Colvin placed 14th with a mark of 23:01.6, earning Third Team All-SUNYAC, and not far behind was Estus with a time of 23:34.8 (17th).

Young talent has been a highlight for the Cardinals as sophomores Ellie LeRoy (Malone, N.Y. / Franklin Academy) and Ella Stuttard (Oriskany Falls, N.Y. / Waterville) have been consistent scorers for Plattsburgh, with Stuttard scoring in five races this season and LeRoy four. At the SUNYAC Championships, the pair nearly finished back-to-back as LeRoy came across the line at 24:45.5 (27th) and Stuttard at 24:52.0 (29th).

Lucchetti, along with graduate student Nora Graves (Plattsburgh, N.Y. / Plattsburgh) and junior Lillian Moran (Albany, N.Y. / Albany), provides veteran leadership and stability in the middle of the pack. All three have figured into the scoring this season and look to improve their place in the Cardinals' top five. At the conference championships, Moran rounded out the scoring group as the number five runner across.

Sophomores Isabelle Cunningham (Bethlehem, N.Y. / Bethlehem) and Lexie Rostak (Plattsburgh, N.Y. / Plattsburgh) add depth to the team's scoring lineup as both will look to improve their times and improve Plattsburgh's score with their finishes.

ABOUT THE HOFFMANN INVITATIONAL: On Saturday, Sept. 20, Plattsburgh State competed in the Hoffman Invitational hosted by St. Lawrence, where they had a chance to preview the six-kilometer championship course. LeRoy led the way for Plattsburgh with a time of 25:40.7 (56th), and right behind her was Colvin with a mark of 25:40.8 (57th). Cunningham, Estus, Graves, Lucchetti, Moran, and Stuttard all ran the six-kilometer course as well.

Head coach Nathan Petesch will lead the Cardinals into the NCAA Division III Mideast Region Championships for the first time in his inaugural season at Plattsburgh. With a strong blend of veteran leadership and emerging talent, the Cardinals are ready to take advantage of their second appearance on the Ronald C. Hoffmann Cross Country Course this season.