Monmouth University Athletics

Monmouth Records Highest-Ever Individual Finishes at CAA Cross Country Championships

November 01, 2024

Click here for men's results
Click here for women's results

Elon, NC - The Monmouth University men's and women's cross-country teams contested the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Championships for the third time on Friday morning.

As they did during their first two appearances, the men posted a fourth-place finish (11 teams) at the conference meet. The women repeated their 2023 showing by claiming sixth place (13 teams).

"Both the men's and women's teams competed with great effort today at the CAA Championships," said acting head coach Damon Godfrey. "While we would have liked to place higher in the team standings on both sides, we are determined to challenge for a title here in the future."

Individually, team leaders senior Declan McDonnell and sophomore Emily Simko accounted for the Hawks' highest-ever finishes at the CAA title meet.

Improving by one spot from last year, McDonnell, who set the program record earlier this season, finished the 8K men's race in 24:51.60 to claim sixth place. Freshman Nick Kuenkel, senior Tennessee Tremaine, graduate Seb Reed and senior Nico Grilli all clocked in among the Top 38, accounting for Monmouth's five scorers on the men's side.

Simko, the 2023 CAA Women's Rookie of the Year, jumped up seven spots to No. 6 overall by completing the women's 6K competition in 21:08.00. Senior Marisa Kilgarriff, freshman Krissy Sarnicola, junior Brianna Jucewicz and freshman Lana Hurwitz all scored for the Monmouth women.

"Declan McDonnell and Emily Simko achieved our highest finishes for any man or woman in this meet since we joined the conference, and both earned First Team All-CAA honors, which is an outstanding achievement," said Godfrey.

Next up for the Hawks is the season's second trip to Penn State. This time, it'll be for the NCAA Regionals on November 15.

"We will now refocus and shift our attention to the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional meet in two weeks at Penn State, aiming to finish our season on a high note," said Godfrey.

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