The Binghamton Men’s Cross Country team completed its amazing turnaround by capturing its first-ever America East championships on Saturday morning at the University of Vermont. 

Junior Erik van Ingen became the first Binghamton runner to win the conference’s individual title. The Bearcat men won the nine-team meet while the women were seventh. Furthermore, Annette Acuff and Joe Pienta were named the America East Men’s Cross Country Staff of the Year for the first time in both of their careers.

With eight runners finishing among the top 21 in the race, Binghamton left little doubt as to the meet’s outcome. Graduate student Chris Gaube was second overall with a time of 25:26.10. It marks the second year in a row he has finished in the top three. Junior Casey Quaglia was fourth (25:40.80) while freshman Jeff Martinez placed 10th (26:01.70). Juniors Adam Quinn clinched the win with a 13th-place finish (26:10.90).

Junior Andrew Ugolino was 17th (26:21.00), freshman Evan Bloomberg was 19th (26:24) and senior Craig Coon was 21st (26:31). There were 81 runners in the nine-team race.

On the women’s side, freshman Rachel Miura was the Bearcats top finisher, placing 10th in the 5,000-meter race in a time of 19:01.80. She is the first Binghamton female runner to earn all-conference honors since 2006.