SELINSGROVE, PA – The Susquehanna University cross country program earned three All-Landmark Conference selections following the 2026 Landmark Conference Cross Country Championships, highlighted by junior Derick Blair repeating as the men's individual champion and earning Landmark Conference Men's Cross Country Performer of the Year honors.

Senior Hunter Valentino and senior Alison Sponseller also earned Second Team All-Landmark recognition following strong performances at the conference championships on Saturday, October 31, at the West Branch Cross Country Course in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania.

Blair continued his outstanding junior season by capturing his second consecutive Landmark Conference individual championship in the men's 8K. The defending champion crossed the finish line in 24:44.4, averaging 4:58.6 per mile to finish first in the 70-runner field. Blair finished more than 14 seconds ahead of the runner-up, Nathan Moore of Moravian, who recorded a time of 24:59.3. His performance secured his second straight individual conference title and earned him Performer of the Year recognition.

Valentino joined Blair among the conference's top performers, finishing 13th overall in 26:09.7 to earn Second Team All-Landmark honors. Senior Evander Lackman added a 22nd-place finish in 26:35.7, while sophomore Andrew Hilke placed 36th in 27:12.4. Junior Thomas McGann rounded out Susquehanna's top five with a 40th-place finish in 27:16.1.

The River Hawks finished fifth overall in the men's team standings with 107 points, just one second behind fourth-place Scranton in total team time.

On the women's side, senior Alison Sponseller paced Susquehanna with an eighth-place individual finish in the 6K, crossing the line in 22:41.9. Her top-10 performance earned her Second Team All-Landmark recognition and established a new personal best.

Senior EmmaLia Ciccarello followed in 32nd place with a time of 24:10.2, while sophomore Jessica Askins finished just two-tenths of a second behind her teammate in 33rd place at 24:10.4. Junior Aubrie Berwager placed 41st in 24:49.0, and sophomore Julianna Sobocinski rounded out the scoring five in 55th place with a time of 25:22.2. The women's team finished fifth overall among the 10 competing programs with 151 points.

All-Landmark
Alison Sponseller: Competed in three meets during the regular season... finished 10th in the 5k at the LVC Dutchmen XC Invited with a personal best of 19:49.0... finished 69th in the 6k at the Aubrey Shenk Invitational running a personal best 23:03.7.

Hunter Valentino: Competed in three meets during the regular season... finished 4th in the 8k at the LVC Dutchmen XC Invite... finished 7th in the 8k at the 43rd Annual DeSales University Cross Country Invitational.

Derick Blair: Competed in three meets during the regular season... finished first at the LVC Dutchmen XC Invite running 25:45.4... also finished first at the 43rd Annual DeSales University Cross Country Invitational running 25:30.5.