MONTGOMERY, N.Y. – Sophomore
Tayla Gunton was the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference individual champion, leading four members of the Iona University women's cross country team with All-MAAC honors at the 2023 league championship. The Gaels earned a second place team finish at Twin Ponds on the FARM in Orange County, New York, Saturday morning.
RACE SUMMARY
Gunton improved on her MAAC Rookie of the Year winning sixth-place effort last season posting a two-second win (20:54.6) over Canisius senior Olivia Moran (20:56.8). Sophomore
Holly Smith (21:11.9) finished fifth overall following a pair of Quinnipiac runners. Junior
Madison Klein (21:22.5) was Iona's third finisher in seventh place. Sophomore
Cara Du Preez finished 11th (21:49.0) and freshman
Claragh Keane was 16th (22:05.5) to round out the Gaels' scorers.
Other Iona performers finishing in the Top 30 included freshman
Lily Overton (21st, 22:27.8) and senior
Susie O'Flynn (27th, 22:39.6).
THAT'S OUTSTANDING!
Gunton was named MAAC Most Outstanding Performer and added her name to the list of Iona harriers earning the individual crown, becoming the 14th in program history. The Gaels have earned the honor 17 times overall, all in the last 20 years.
ALL-MAAC/ALL-ROOKIE
Gunton, Smith, Klein and Du Preez earned All-MAAC honors by virtue of finishing in the Top 15. Keane and Overton were among the top five first-time performers to cross the line and named MAAC All-Rookie. Keane was one spot shy of Rookie of the Year honors.
TEAM RESULTS
With 40 team points, Iona finished nine points shy of team-champion Quinnipiac (31). Siena (87), Rider (117), and Canisius (125) rounded out the Top 5. Iona has won 16 of the last 19 MAAC Championships, with the Bobcats winning the other three.
IONA INDIVIDUALS
ALL-MAAC FINISHERS
| Pl. |
Name |
Team |
Year |
Time |
| 1.) |
Tayla Gunton |
Iona |
SO |
20:54.6 |
| 2.) |
Olivia Moran |
Canisius |
SR |
20:56.8 |
| 3.) |
Corinne Barney |
Quinnipiac |
SR |
21:01.5 |
| 4.) |
Alessandra Zaffina |
Quinnipiac |
SR |
21:06.1 |
| 5.) |
Holly Smith |
Iona |
SO |
21:11.9 |
| 6.) |
Rachel St. Germain |
Quinnipiac |
SO |
21:17.6 |
| 7.) |
Madison Klein |
Iona |
JR |
21:22.5 |
| 8.) |
Emily Young |
Quinnipiac |
SR |
21:38.6 |
| 9.) |
Andria Scaglione |
Manhattan |
SR |
21:41.5 |
| 10.) |
Liv Distefano |
Quinnipiac |
SR |
21:45.8 |
| 11.) |
Cara Du Preez |
Iona |
SO |
21:49.0 |
| 12.) |
Parker O'Brien |
Marist |
SO |
21:53.2 |
| 13.) |
Julia Caputo |
Siena |
JR |
21:53.8 |
| 14.) |
Madeleine Hesler |
Siena |
SR |
21:55.9 |
| 15.) |
Maddie Dischert |
Rider |
FR |
21:56.9 |
TEAM FINISHES
| Pl. |
Team |
Score |
| 1.) |
Quinnipiac |
31 |
| 2.) |
Iona |
40 |
| 3.) |
Siena |
87 |
| 4.) |
Rider |
117 |
| 5.) |
Canisius |
125 |
| 6.) |
Marist |
159 |
| 7.) |
Manhattan |
184 |
| 8.) |
Fairfield |
244 |
| 9.) |
Mount St. Mary's |
271 |
| 10.) |
Niagara |
279 |
| 11.) |
Saint Peter's |
355 |
SOCIAL MEDIA
Be sure to follow Iona University athletics on all social media platforms:
Iona Gaels: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (
Email Updates).
Iona Cross Country/Track: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
UP NEXT
Iona's championship season continues in less than two weeks when the program tackles the 2023 NCAA Northeast Regional Championship at Van Cortlandt Park.
