Puskar places 24th as CUA men compete at UMES Invite

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – The Cardinals men’s cross country team placed seventh at the UMES Cappy Anderson Invite on Saturday afternoon with a total of 160 points.  Mike Puskar led the Cardinals for the second straight week as he placed 24th with a time of 28:08.21. 

St. Francis (Pa.) took the top spot with 19 points, followed by UMES with 88 and Howard with 107.  Rounding out the standings were Hampton (111), Coppin State (132), Delaware State (136), CUA (160), Morgan State (175) and Wesley (268).

Along with Puskar, Kian Olia (30 – 28:35.83), George Brewer (35 – 29:29.01) and Joe Quigley (40 – 31:53.30) placed in the top-40.

Other Cardinals who competed include: Michael Kennedy, who placed 41st with a time of 31:53.34, Kyle McKenna, who crossed in 31:59.81 and placed 42nd, Christopher Derks, who finished 43rd with a time of 32:06.68, Nick Pavia, who finished in a time of 32:31.90 and crossed 46th, Joe Funk who placed 50th with a time of 32:51.33, Joe Kenney, who crossed in 53rd place in 33:35.24, and Ryan Anderson who finished in 54th place with a time of 33:41.95.

Individually, Chris Mills of St. Francis (Pa.) was the top finisher as he crossed in 24:52.70.  Maryland Eastern Shore’s Basil Melek placed second with a time of 24:43.76.

CUA returns to action next weekend, September 25, when the Cardinals travel to compete at the William & Mary Invitational.  Action gets underway beginning at 11:00 AM.