LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Niagara cross country brought the 2012 season to the close as Kim Vona led the Purple Eagles through the 2012 MAAC Championships with an 11th place finish, the highest for any Purple Eagle since 2007, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World on Satruday Morning.

“The competition was tough but the women ran extremely well with most recording a personal-best time by large margins,” head coach Hadara Katarski said after the race.

Vona, who finished the 6k race with a time of 22:17, was the highest finish for a Purple Eagle since the 2007 season when Julie Dickhans finished in fourth.  This was Vona’s fourth top-15 finish of the season and topped her previous best from the 2010 MAAC Championships by nine seconds and five places.

Senior Nicole Mehlman crossed the line in 23:26 and placed 33rd overall in what will be the final race of her Niagara career.  Stephanie Schmidt was next for the Purple Eagles with a 23:59, which was good for 46th place.  Tyler Levengood and Lindsey Phillips rounded out Niagara’s scoring, placing 54th and 57th respectively.  Levengood, a freshman, finished in 24:38 and Phillips, a senior, completed the event in 24:49.

The women’s team accumulated 201 points to finish in seventh, ahead of Manhattan (207 points), Siena (233 points), and St. Peter’s (303 points). 

Three runners on the men’s side had season-best finishes on Saturday, led by Nick Orlowski who placed 41st out of the 124-runner field with a time of 26:38.

 “With injuries and illness we’ve had a tough time making everything click for the men, but we did have a couple big personal records and a great effort by most,” said Katarski.

Rhace Colon was next for Niagara and recorded a person-best on an 8k course with a 26:58.  Colon, a freshman from Buffalo, N.Y., placed a 49th overall.  Ryan Lamb finished in 27:32 while Sam Reedy, who ran while battling an illness, ran a 28:20.  Freshman Matt Pond wrapped up Niagara’s scoring with a personal-best 28:43. 

The men’s team accumulated 266 points and finished in eighth place. The finished ahead of Saint Peter’s, who had 283 points, and Loyola (Md.), who accumulated 285 points.

“All in all, I’m very proud of this team and the effort and sportsmanship they’ve put forth this season,” Katarski said. 

The Purple Eagles will be back in action next Fall when they begin the 2013 season.