PENNINGTON, NJ – In its third year in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the Monmouth University cross country teams posted its best-ever finishes at the MAAC Championships as the women's team claimed third and the men's squad landed in fourth, Saturday morning at Rosedale Park. Jenna Cupp (Newark Valley, NY/Newark Valley) along with Molly McKeon (Royersford, PA./Pope John Paul II) and senior Graham Huggins-Filozof (Freewood Acres, NJ/Freehold Township) paced their respective teams en route to earning all-conference honors as each earned a top-15 result to lead the way for the Blue and White, which compiled its best top-five averages on any course in program history.

"The MAAC has always been stronger in cross country and may be better than ever,” commented Head Coach Joe Compagni. “The top teams and individuals here will certainly have an opportunity to do very well at NCAA Regionals and NCAAs. Our women's team had an excellent race as a team and really did all they could have done today. The men had a few tremendous races and a few disappointing ones as well. They've done a great job this season and both teams can have some great finishes in our two remaining meets."

Cupp, who entered the week as the MAAC Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week, ran the 6k race in 21:55.77, 15 seconds under the team average, good for 11th overall, while McKeon was the second Hawk in with a time of 22:02.40, good for 14th. Senior Sydney Engelberger (Great Barrington, Mass./Monument Mountain RHS) posted a time of 22:10.96 to earn 17th, followed by junior Maggie Hanlon (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) who landed in 21st with a time of 22:23.57.

Rachael Baker (Hanson, MA/Whitman Hanson Regional) finished less than a second behind Hanlon, recording a time of 22:24.14 to finish 22nd overall while Rachel Lehnert (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven) and Kendal Hand (Howell, NJ/Howell) registered times of 22:31.60 and 22:39.59, respectively, to cap-off the Hawks' top-seven.

Monmouth recorded a program-best 85 points while a member of the MAAC. Quinnipiac compiled 39 points to win the team title and dethroned perennial champion Iona, which earned second with 65 tallies. Rider trailed MU by 31 points to earn fourth and edged Marist by six tallies to close out the top-five of the 11-team field.

On the men's side, Huggins-Filozof navigated the 8k course in a time of 24:27.81 to earn 13th overall in the field of 169 competitors. Senior classmate Kevin French (Fishkill, NY/John Jay) crossed the finish line in 24:45.36 to claim 26th, followed by sophomore Ben Dillon (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) who earned 31st finishing less than 10 seconds behind French. Making his MAAC Championship debut, freshman Kyle Mueller (Brick, NJ/MATES) was the fourth Hawk to cross the finish line, completing the task in 24:59.61 to place 34th, one spot ahead of senior Domenick D'Agostino (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) who finished .23 seconds later. Rookie Ryan Mitchell (Lansdale, PA/La Salle College H.S.) and Kevin Summonte (Freehold, NJ/ Freehold Township) closed out the Hawks' top-seven, registering times of 25:14.39 and 25:20.07, respectively.

Iona, which had 11 of the events' first 12 finishers, ran away with the team title, posting a perfect 15 points. Marist claimed second with 93 points, followed by Canisius in third with 112 points, three tallies in front of MU. Siena closed out the top-five of the 11-team event with 140 points.

Following the event, the MAAC released its cross country All-Academic Team, which could be found listed below.

Following a week off, Monmouth will continue with postseason events when it runs in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship on November 13 at West Windsor Field in Princeton, NJ.


Women's Results

3. 85 MON (22:11.36)
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1 11 Jenna Cupp 21:55.77
2 14 Molly McKeon 22:02.40
3 17 Sydney Engelberger 22:10.96
4 21 Maggie Hanlon 22:23.57
5 22 Rachael Baker 22:24.14
6 ( 26) Rachel Lehnert 22:31.60
7 ( 32) Kendal Hand 22:39.59

1. Quinnipiac 39
2. Iona 65
3. Monmouth 85
4. Rider116
5. Marist 122
6. Canisius 158
7. Manhattan 162
8. Siena 190
9. Fairfield 240
10. Niagara 317
11. Saint Peter's 360

Men's Results
4. 115 MON (24:49.44 )
====================

13 Graham Huggins-Filo 24:27.81
26 Kevin French 24:45.36
31 Ben Dillon 24:54.60
34 Kyle Mueller 24:59.61
35 Domenick D'Agostino 24:59.84
49 Ryan Mitchell 25:14.39
54 Kevin Summonte 25:20.07

1. Iona 15
2. Marist 93
3. Canisius 112
4. Monmouth 115
5. Siena 140
6. Manhattan 157
7. Quinnipiac 173
8. Fairfield 195
9. Rider 208
10. Niagara 278
11. Saint Peter's 362

MAAC All-Academic Team