RUNNER to WATCH Alexandra Juzwiak Jr

2016 SCHEDULE MEET THE 2016 RUTGERS WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY TEAM SEPTEMBER Name Class Hometown/High School 10 Harry Groves Spiked Invitational Kaitlyn Bedard Sr. Ringoes, N.J./Hunterdon Central 16 Rider Invitational 24 Griak Invitational Emma Bergman Fr. Ventor, N.J./Ocean City Allyson Black So. Denville, N.J. /Morris Knolls OCTOBER 1 Paul Short Invitaitonal Nisa Cicitta Sr. Glen Gardener, N.J./Voorhees 7 Metropolitan Championships Genevieve Cickavage So. Moorestown, NJ /Moorestown 30 Big Ten Championships Deanna DiLandro Jr. Oakland, N.J./Ramapo

NOVEMBER Kelsey Farbanish Fr. Pittstown, N.J./ North Hunterdon 11 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Olivia Gibson So. Chester, N.Y. /Monroe-Woodbury 19 NCAA Championships Brianna Haspel Jr. R Lincroft, N.J./Middletown South Megan Jones Fr. Mulica Hill, N.J./Clearview Regional RUNNER TO WATCH Alexandra Juzwiak Jr. North Middletown, N.J./Middletown North Monica Lee So. Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East Stephanie Mauer Fr. Hillsborough, N.J./ Hillsborough Celine Mazzi Jr. Monroeville, N.J./Delsea Regional Jessica McAdams Fr. Marlton, N.J./Cherokee Lou Mialhe Fr. Princeton, N.J./Princeton Ellen Miller Sr. Morris Plains, N.J. /Parsippany Hills Kristen Molloy Fr. Tinton Falls, N.J./ Monmouth Regional Nicole Nicholas Sr. Jersey City, N.J. /McNair Academic Sarah Robbie Sr. Marlton, N.J./Cherokee Nadia Saponara Fr. Ringoes, N.J./ Hunterdon Central Jenna Sobieski So. Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge

Head Coach: James Robinson (Rutgers ‘95), 11th season Assistant Coach: Marina Muncan (Villanova ’06), 2nd season

Allyson Black was RU’s top finisher last season and was an All-Mid-Atlantic FOLLOW US Region honoree @Rutgers_WomenTF RUTGERS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS Kimberly Zivkovich, Director (WX/C) Cell: 732-690-6716 Email: [email protected] RutgersWomensTF RutgersTrack Twitter: @KimZSID RUTGERS WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY - BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES 2016 Rutgers Women’s Cross Country Times Penn State Rider Invit. The Griak Paul Short Run Metropolitan Big Ten (6k) Invit. (6k) Race (6k) Race (6k) Race (5k) Champs (6k) Champs Kaitlyn Bedard 23.48 DNR 24.45 22.24 20.00 - Emma Bergman 24.01 DNR 24.54 22.24 19.51.5 - Allyson Black 21.25 DNR 23.29 22.18 DNR - Genevieve Cickavage DNF DNR DNR 23.48 21.08.9 - Nisa Cicitta DNR 23.42.21 26.47 DNR 20.43.9 - Deanna DiLandro DNR DNR DNR DNR 19.26.3 - Kelsey Farbanish 25.09 DNR DNR DNR DNR - Olilva Gibson DNR DNR DNR DNR DNR - Brianna Haspel DNR 25.38.97 DNR DNR 21.42.8 - Megan Jones DNR 24.51.28 DNR 23.43 21.04.1 - Alexandra Juzwiak DNR DNR 26.20 22.46 19.27.9 - Monica Lee DNF 24.25.30 DNR 24.44 21.21.1 - Stephanie Mauer 24.04 DNR 25.08 22.44 20.12.4 - Celine Mazzi 25.20 24.28.28 DNR 24.12 20.46.6 - Jessica McAdams DNR 25.14.06 DNR DNR 21.48.4 - Lou Mialhe 24.12 DNR 25.05 22.51 DNR - Ellen Miller DNR DNR DNR DNR 21.07.3 - Kristen Molloy 27.43 DNR DNR DNR DNR - Nicole Nicholas DNR DNR DNR DNR DNF - Sarah Robbie DNR DNR DNR DNR 22.49.4 - Nadia Saponara 23.49 DNR 24.57 22.49 19.56.9 - Jenna Sobieski DNR DNR DNR DNR 23.27.7 -

A LOOK AT THE FIELD EARLY TASTE OF THE BIG TEN COURSE LAST TIME OUT: Three Big Ten teams are currently ranked The Rutgers women’s cross team got an early METROPOLITAN CHAMPIONSHIPS among the top 30 of the USTFCCCA National taste of Big Ten racing as the Scarlet Knights The Rutgers women’s cross country team Coaches Poll. Michigan leads the way at No. 6, not only raced on the same course being used placed third overall with Deanna DiLandro and followed by No. 9 Penn State and No. 27 Michi- for the conference championships, but were Alexandra Juzwiak placing in the top 10 at the gan State. Minnesota is also receiving votes in also able to compete against eight other Big 2016 Metropolitan Championships held at Van the ballot. Ten teams on Sept. 24 at the Griak Invitational. Cortlandt Park on Oct. 8. The Scarlet Knights placed 32nd in a field that BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS featured nine nationally ranked squads on the The Scarlet Knights will be making their third 6K Les Bolstad Course. Host Fordham won the women’s 5K race with Big Ten Championships appearance after join- 41 points followed by Manhattan in second ing the conference in 2014. No. 30 Portland captured the invitational title with 61 points and Rutgers in third with 75. with 74 points, followed by No. 9 Michigan At last season’s championships hosted by State with 127 points and No. 13 Penn State DiLandro and Juzwiak crossed the finish line in Northwestern at the Sydney R. Marovitz Golf with 147. ninth and tenth respectively. Course in Chicago, Allyson Black led the Scar- let Knights with a 16th place finish as Rutgers Sophomore Allyson Black was RU’s top finisher For DiLandro, her time of 19:26.3 was a new placed 14th overall. logging a time of 23:29 and was followed by PR resetting her previous best of 20:04.9 at last senior Kaitlyn Bedard (24:45) and freshman season’s Monmouth Invitational. Juzwiak imme- Black crossed the finish line in a time of Emma Bergman (24:54). Also scoring for the diately followed posting a finish of 19:27.9. 20:30.6 for a PR and RU’s best individual finish Scarlet Knights were freshmen Nadia Saponara at the championships since joining the Big Ten (24:57) and Lou Mialhe (25:05). Also scoring for the Scarlet Knights were Conference freshmen Emma Bergman (19:51.5) and Nadia SPIKED SHOE TOP 10 Saponara (19:56.9) along with senior Kaitlyn Alexandra Juzwiak also collected a PR with her Allyson Black finished among the top 10 at the Bedard (20:00.00). finish of 22:30.1. Juzwiak took eight seconds Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational on Sept. off her previous top time from the 2015 NCAA 10 in State College, Pennsylvania. ON THE PAUL SHORT COURSE Mid-Atlantic Regional. The Rutgers women’s cross country team was The Scarlet Knights raced against three in action on Oct. 1 at the 43rd annual Paul LOOKING BACK AT THE MID-ATLANTIC programs featured in the top 30 of the latest Short Run hosted by Lehigh University. REGIONAL USTFCCCA Poll in Penn State, Georgetown and Allyson Black earned All-Mid-Atlantic Region Syracuse, along with West Virginia, who was The Paul Short Run is one of the largest cross honors along with former teammate Paige receiving votes. country meets in the nation with nearly 6,000 Senatore held at the West Windsor Fields in athletes from 450 college and high schools Princeton, New Jersey on Nov. 13. The Scarlet Rutgers placed sixth overall while host No. competing in the 2016 edition. The Scarlet Knights finished 15th overall. 13 Penn State won the invitational title for the Knights were among 12 teams currently ranked fifth-straight season. No. 19 Georgetown took in the top 15 of the USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Black took 18th place with her finish line time second, while No. 15 Syracuse captured third. Regional Poll. of 21:26.8. Black, a Denville, New Jersey native, crossed Allyson Black was the top Scarlet Knight finish- Also contributing to the Scarlet Knight scoring the finish line with a ninth place performance, er, while freshman Emma Bergman collected were current Scarlet Knights Alexandra Juzwiak logging a time of 21:25 to lead Rutgers. a new PR and senior Kaitlyn Bedard posted a with her time of 23:07.9, Kaitlyn Bedard with a season-best time. finish time of 23:26.6 and Genevieve Cickav- age with a time of 24:32.5. Black was the top Rutgers finisher for a third RUTGERS WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY - BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES time this season after having led the Scarlet IN THE CLASSROOM Additionally, nine members of last year’s team Knights at last weekend’s Griak Invitational in The Rutgers women’s cross country team was were among the 83 Scarlet Knights recognized Minnesota, as well as the season opening Penn recognized for its efforts in the classroom as by the Big Ten Conference earning Fall 2015 State Invitational. Black logged a time of 22:18. the Scarlet Knights were named a U.S. Track & Academic All-Big Ten honors. Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Bergman and Bedard both crossed the finish (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team for the 2015 Senior Kaitlyn Bedard earned the honor for the line in 22:24, their best times this season. Berg- season. second consecutive year. man surpassed her previous top 6K time of 24.01 set at the Penn State Invitational. Bedard, The Scarlet Knights were among the 208 To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selec- meanwhile, not only registered a new season women’s programs that earned All-Academic tion, student-athletes must be letterwinners best time, but was just short of a new PR. The Team honors in boasting a 3.413 team grade who are in at least their second academic senior bested her previous top 6K time of the point average. Rutgers had the fourth highest year at their institution and carry a cumulative season of 23.48 from the Penn State Invita- team GPA among the Big Ten. grade-point average of 3.0 or higher. tional and was only .07 seconds shy of her PR of 22.17 set at last season’s Paul Short run. To qualify for the honor, teams must carry at Returning members who earned Academic All- least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. Big Ten honors included: Back in December, Rutgers had nine Scarlet Kaitlyn Bedard - Social Work Knights named to the Big Ten All-Academic Allyson Black, - Nursing Team for earning a 3.0 cumulative grade point Deanna DiLandro - Undeclared average or higher with two or more years in Alexandra Juzwiak, - Undeclared residence. Celine Mazzi - Undeclared Nicole Nicholas - Marketing Sarah Robbie - Undeclared

ALUMNI NOTABLES Following her Rutgers career, Culley won the for the Scarlet Knights. During her career, she women’s 5000m at the 2012 U.S. Olympic had set a school record in the 3000-meter Trials to earn a trip to the 2012 Summer Olym- steeplechase. pics in London, where she was a finalist in her event. She was also part of Team USA at the Tappen currently works as a reporter for NBC 2008 IAAF Indoor World Championships in Sports Group’s coverage of Notre Dame Foot- 3000m, the 2009 IAAF Outdoor Track & Field ball, Football Night in America and serves as a in 5,000m and at the 2009 IAAF Cross Country co-host of NBC Sports Group’s NHL coverage, World Championships in the 8000m. including NHL Live and NHL Overtime. In addition, Tappen worked as a reporter for NBC Culley is currently the interim director of Sports’ coverage of Super Bowl XLIX. Georgetown track and field and cross country programs after spending the last two seasons Prior to joining NBC Sports Group, Tappen as an assistant. In 2016 was honored as the worked for NHL Network as host of NHL JULIE CULLEY USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Assistant Coach of Tonight, the network’s nightly highlight show. the Year. Tappen also spent five years with the New A three-time Academic All-American, United England Sports Network, where she was the States Olympian and New Jersey’s NCAA lead studio host for the network’s coverage Woman of the Year, Julie Culley was an NCAA of Boston Bruins games. In addition, Tappen Cross Country Championships participant in was a weekend anchor and weekday sports 2000, a 2002 NCAA Cross Country All-Ameri- reporter at NBC affiliate, WJAR in Providence, can and a 2003 NCAA qualifier in the 3000m. Rhode Island and began her career in 2003 at A Lebanon, New Jersey native, she still holds College Sports Television. the Rutgers school records in the indoor 3000m and the outdoor 5000m, as well the In 2006, Tappen earned an Associated Press Scarlet Knight benchmark with the distance award for her sports feature “Swim Meet.” Her medley relay team. Additionally, she brought feature reporting has also been nominated for home six Metropolitan Championship titles, two Boston/New England Emmy Awards by one of which was in the 2002 Metropolitan the National Academy of Television Arts and Cross Country Championship, setting a new Sciences. course record with her first place performance.

A three-time MVP of the cross country team and a two-time MVP of the track & field team, KATHRYN TAPPEN Culley was awarded the Headley Singer Award, given annually to one outstanding Former Rutgers cross country and track & field female RU student-athlete and recipient of the student-athlete Kathryn Tappen was in Rio as David A. “Sonny” Werblin Award, given to a part of NBC Sports’ Olympic broadcast team national level accomplished RU athlete. Grad- covering beach volleyball. uating cum laude from the State University of New Jersey with degrees in marketing and Tappen, a 2003 graduate hailing from Morris- political science, she was also a five-time BIG town, New Jersey, was a four-time Academic EAST Academic All-Star and the Aeropostale All-American and Big East Academic All-Star Big East Scholar-Athlete. RUTGERS WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY - BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES MEET HEAD COACH JAMES ROBINSON champion Paige Senatore. Senatore also outstanding track record as a coach. He was earned her second All-Mid-Atlantic honor in named the NCAA East Region Assistant Coach 2015 joining teammate Allyson Black with All- of the Year for Sprints/Hurdles by the US Track Region honors by placing among the top 25 at & Field and Cross Country Coaches Associa- the NCAA regional. tion. The award was presented to only four coaches in the nation in that event area. In addition to striving to achieve success in the track and field arena, Robinson continues to A 1995 graduate of Rutgers University, Robin- drive his student-athletes in the classroom. In son was a consistent scorer and runner-up in the last year, between the cross country and both the long jump and triple jump at the Met- track & field programs, 15 Scarlet Knights were ropolitan and Atlantic 10 Conference Champi- honored with nods to the Big Ten All-Academic onships in each of his four seasons as a Scarlet Team, highlights by three student-athletes Knight. He served as a team captain and was named Distinguished Scholar Athletes for the recipient of the Colin D. McManus Award, achieving a grade point average of 3.7 or which is presented to the student-athlete who highter. His cross country squads have been has demonstrated tremendous improvement recipients of seven USTFCCA All-Academic through self-sacrifice and dedication. Team awards, including the last five-straight seasons, while track and field has earned all- During his competitive years at Rutgers, James Robinson enters his 11th season as academic status four times. Robinson was a nine-time qualifier for the IC4A head coach of the Rutgers women’s cross Championships in both events and a member country and track & field team programs. Robinson previously spent an 11-year stint as of three Metropolitan Championship teams. an assistant at Rutgers. He began his coaching Robinson took over the reins of the women’s career in 1995 as a volunteer assistant coach Robinson currently resides in Trenton, N.J. with program in June of 2006 following the retire- with the Rutgers men’s track and field team. his family. ment of long-time Scarlet Knight mentor During that time, the staff received recognition Roberta Anthes. Upon his hire, Robinson has as the Co-BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year The Robinson File continued to build on the excellence that came for the 1996 outdoor season. Cross Country & Track/Field Highlights to define Rutgers women’s track and field. - 55 Metropolitan Individual Event Titles The following season, Robinson joined the - Seven Conference Individual Champions At the helm of the Scarlet Knight women’s track women’s coaching staff as a full-time assis- (4 BIG EAST, 2 American Athletic Conference, program, Robinson has coached has coached tant coach under Anthes. His responsibilities 1 Big Ten) 12 All-Americans, two USATF Junior National included coaching the sprints, hurdles, multis - 46 All-ECAC Performers All-Americans (2007 & 2009), an individual and jumping events. - 17 School Records NCAA Division I All-Academic Performer and - Two USATF Junior National All-Americans numerous NCAA regional participants, Metro- As an assistant coach, Robinson helped guide (2007, 09) politan conference champions, All-Conference several consistent scorers in the sprint, hurdle - Three NCAA Mid-Atlantic - District II Cross performers, individual conference champions, and jump groups. His tutelage yielded a pair of Country All-Region Runners and All-ECAC performers. NCAA All-America certificates, 11 NCAA quali- - Five-time NCAA Division I All-Academic T/F fiers and five NCAA All-East Regional Perfor- Field Most recently, the women’s cross country team mances, including a championship title in the - Seven-time NCAA Division I All-Academic X/C won back-to-back Metropolitan Championship long jump at the 2005 Regionals. - NCAA Division I All-Academic Performer team titles in 2014 & 2015, led by two-time - BIG EAST, American Eagle Outfitters Institu- In 2005, Robinson was recognized for his tional Scholar-Athlete of the Year MEET ASSISTANT COACH MARINA MUNCAN

Senatore won the individual title for the second the assistant distance coach. During her time straight season. Additionally, two Scarlet with the club, she coached the former Serbian Knights - Senatore and Allyson Black - brought women’s national steeplechase champion. home All-Regional honors for placing among the top 25 at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional. Muncan has extensive international competi- tion experience, culminating with the 2012 Muncan arrived “On The Banks” after two sea- Olympics held in London as a member of the sons at the College of New Jersey, where she Serbian Olympic Team. A World University helped to coach 10 individual NJAC Confer- champion in the 1500m in 2009, she was also a ence Champions and over 25 ECAC qualifiers. finalist in the event at the 2012 European Out- During her two seasons, the Lions captured door Championship and the 2007 and 2009 the 2014 NJAC women’s outdoor champion- European Indoor Track & Field Championships. ship, the 2013 and 2014 NJAC men’s and Muncan also represented Serbia at the 2007 women’s cross country conference titles and and 2009 European Indoor Track and Field the women’s cross country team qualified for Championships. During her career, she set the the 2013 NCAA Division III championships. In- Serbian national record in both the 1500m dividually, TCNJ won the 2014 and 2015 ECAC (4:06.45) and mile (4:31.16). women’s indoor distance medley relay and had an 800m qualifier to the NCAA Outdoor A 2006 graduate of Villanova University with Eleven-time All-American and 2012 London Championships. a BA in Italian and minor in Russian, Muncan Olympian Marina Muncan begins her second was an 11-time All-American and individual Big season as an assistant coach with the Rutgers Muncan joined the TCNJ staff from Richard East Champion. As a senior, Muncan was the women’s cross country and track & field teams. Stockton College, where she was the women’s NCAA runner-up in the 1500m and member cross country head coach and assistant track of the first place Championship of America In her first season with the Rutgers women’s and field coach. distance medley relay team at Penn Relays. cross country program, the Scarlet Knights Muncan was also a member of the Big East repeated as Metropolitan Champions as Paige Beginning her coaching career with Dinamo Academic All-Star Team from 2003 through Club in Pancevo, Serbia, Muncan served as 2006.