The Iona College Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams ran right back into action after their impressive fall cross country season.

Both competed in the Manhattan College Opener and the FDU Knight Invitational. The events were used to help Cross Country athletes determine what type of shape they were in with the season fast approaching.

At the Manhattan College Opener, there were several Gaels with notable finishes.

In the men’s 500 Meter Dash, the competition featured seven Gaels out of 12 total racers, four of which placed. Graduate student, Matthew Gillespie finished in second with a time of 1:10.4. Junior Reed Kochanek came in fourth, finishing the race in 1:11.2. Graduate student Daniel Clorley finished in fifth place, and freshman Timothy Walsh finished in seventh.

Reed has battled through several injuries the last two years, which has limited him from reaching his true potential.

“I’m hoping that I can make up for the lost time of the last two seasons with this upcoming season,” Kochanek said. “I’m really excited for it and ready to go out there and run some fast times. My training has been really good this year thus far, so I’m hoping to translate good workouts into good races this upcoming season.”

Declaring himself 100% healthy, Reed has high expectations for himself as well as the team.

“I want to compete for the MAAC Title for the 800 meters this year,” Kochanek explained. “Being 100% healthy, I believe I can compete with anyone in the MAAC. As a team we want to win every running event from the 800 meters and up; after MAAC’s our goal is to have as many individuals from our team make it to nationals,” stated Reed.

He continued to reiterate the importance of staying motivated, healthy and optimistic.

“To reach these goals we all have to focus and be determined. We have the talent, we just have to make sure we are healthy the whole season and peak at the right time. It should be a fun season and I’m really looking forward to it.”

There were several Iona competitors highlighted in the FDU Knight Invitational as well.

In the Women’s 400 Meter Dash, Graduate Student Jenny Kurz finished in 10th place with a time of 1:18.20. Sophomores Marlene Delices and Erica Fellin also competed in the race along with seniors Erin Brady and Leigh Mazzella.

Graduate student Daniel Clorley finished ninth out of 24 racers in the Men’s 400 Meter Dash with a time of 55.80.

Senior Luci McLoughlin finished ninth of 16 racers in the Women’s 600 Meter Dash with a final time of 1:55.40. Sophomore Margaret Moore competed in the Women’s 55 Meter Dash and finished 13th. As for the Men’s 55 Meter Dash, freshman Shaquille Henry finished 11th.

The Gaels’ best finish was by Katy Crouse in the Women’s Shot Put. Crouse finished in second place with 9.04 meters, just 1.96 meters behind the winner.

The Gaels will be back in action Jan. 25 in the Metropolitan Championships in New York as well as the Terrier Classic held at Boston University.