BRONX, N.Y. - The Monmouth University men's and women's cross country teams earned two of the best team finishes in school history, as well as three All-East honors today at the ECAC Division I/IC4A Cross Country Championships at Van Cortlandt Park.
On the men's side, the Hawks claimed fourth place overall, their best finish at the IC4A's in 11 years, while the women claimed sixth position.
The Hawks' men's squad finished fourth of 21 schools, its best finish at the IC4A's since taking third place in 2000. Led by freshman
Khari Bowen (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Township), who finished ninth overall in 26:16 for the five-mile course, Monmouth compiled a score of 167, which was the top Northeast Conference team score.
Bowen, who recorded the second-best time in school history for a Monmouth freshman at Van Cortlandt Park, is one of only two freshmen in school history to earn All-East honors in cross country. Also earning All-East honors was senior captain
Dan Collura (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial), who finished 25th overall in 26:47.
Monmouth's third finisher was senior
Garth DeBlasio (Millstone, N.J./Allentown), who finished 35th overall, with his best effort of the year in a time of 27:04. Junior
Sean Hartnett (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) finished 43rd for the Hawks, in 27:18, while senior captain
Ryan Mulligan (Hazlet N.J./Raritan) was 55th, running 27:41. Senior
J.J. Cafferelli (Lauren Springs, N.J./Highland Regional), carded a time of 27:46 to finish 57th, while sophomore
Seth Robbins (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) claimed 64th position in a time of 27:58.
MU's team score of 167 left the Hawks behind only Binghamton, which finished first overall, Fordham (2nd) and Fairfield (3rd).
"This was absolutely the best race of the season for the men's team," said head coach
Joe Compagni. "The entire team showed a lot of heart and toughness to earn this finish."
The women's side was led by senior captain
Jennifer Nelson (Barnegat N.J./Barnegat), who finished fourth overall in 18:26 for the 5K course, to set a new Monmouth course record and earning her second straight All-East honor.
Amanda Eller (Delmont, N.J./Millville) was Monmouth's second finisher on the day, claiming 16th place overall in 18:43, missing All-East status by less than a second, while posting the seventh-best time in school history on the course.
Kelsey Maher (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) ran 19:00 to finish 22nd overall, while junior
Emily MacEwen (South Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) ran 19:24 to finish 51st. Senior captain
Juliet Smith (Freedom, Pa./Freedom Area) [20:10], sophomore
Marissa Felicetti (Old Bridge N.J./Old Bridge) [20:15] and junior
Stacey Lepes (Branchville, N.J./High Point Regional) [20:29] rounded out the Hawks competitors.
The MU women, who finished second at the event a year ago, finished sixth out of 26 schools with 197 points, equalling their second-best finish in school history. The women finished behind team champion Albany, Marist (2nd), Towson (3rd), Sacred Heart (4th) and Delaware (5th).
"Our top four women went out with the leaders and raced very aggressively," Compagni said. "They were a tough and together team all fall."
Monmouth's men and women have earned 35 All-East honors in cross country in the past 15 years, including seven in the last two seasons.
With the 2011 Cross Country season now in the books, the Hawks will open their Indoor Track & Field season at home with the 3rd Annual MAC Classic, on December 3rd.
