Rakoc, Patterson, Newman Sweep Liberty League Awards

Sam Rakoc (left), Spencer Patterson (right) and coach John Newman (inset)

Nov. 27: St. Lawrence University's men's cross country team swept the major awards in the Liberty League for the second straight year in voting by the league's coaches.

Senior Sam Rakoc was the unanimous selection as Liberty League Runner of the Year, freshman Spencer Patterson was the Rookie of the Year and coach John Newman was Coach of the Year for the ninth time in the last ten years.

Rakoc was the league individual champion and also won the NYSCTC Championship. The fifth straight Saint runner to be league Runner of the Year and the eighth in the last ten years, he had four top ten finishes and a personal best 80th at the NCAA Championships.

Patterson is the second straight Saint to take Rookie honors and the fifth in the last six years. He was the top freshman finisher in the Liberty League championship with a fifth place finish and was a four-time Liberty League Rookie of the Week.

The Saints, who have won every Liberty League championship since the start of league competition in 1995 placed six on the All Liberty League team. Rakoc, Scott Smolensky, Brendan Courneene and Patterson earned first team honors by virtue of top seven finishes while Trevor Bibb and Wesley Kirui were second team all stars based on finishes in the top 14.