LEBANON, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College cross country team finished second at the United East Conference Championships at Union Canal Tunnel Park on Saturday.

The Falcons landed just one point behind St. Mary's College of Maryland for the runner-up finish, collecting 63 team points.

"To say I am proud of this team seems inadequate," said Head Cross Country Coach Jaryd Flank. "Very rarely does a team put it all together in one race at the right time and that's exactly what we did."

Graduate student Ryley Schwalm (Pottsville, Pa./North Schuylkill) captured the individual championship and United East Conference Runner of the Year honors with a time of 22:11.4, setting a new United East Conference Championship record and Lebanon Valley College course record. The first-place finish also landed Schwalm on First Team All-Conference.

Junior Giada Smith (Springtown, Pa./Palisades) joined Schwalm on First Team All-Conference, placing eighth overall in 24:55.6.

First-years Carly Dachenhausen (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown Community) and Alicia Cruz (Easton, Pa./Wilson Area) landed on Second Team All-Conference. Dachenhausen finished 15^th in a time of 27:14.2 and Cruz followed in 16^th (27:18.1).

Senior Emily Matoushek (Waymart, Pa./Forest City Regional) clocked a time of 29:00.8, while junior Abby Adams (Suffolk, Va./Lakeland) crossed the line in 32:54.2.

"Giada, Carly, Alicia, Emily, and Abby all hit PR's when it mattered most," Flank said. "I couldn't be more proud to be this team's coach. Today we showed a conference championship is on the horizon for Cedar Crest Cross Country."

Cedar Crest will next compete at the NCAA Division III Metro Regionals on Saturday, November 14 at Lehigh University.