Skyhawks earn its second-straight East Region Title, 16th-straight ticket to the Championships
Taxter earned his second All-East Region honor with his runner-up mark |
BETHPAGE, New York (November 17, 2018) – The Stonehill College men's cross country team, ranked No. 2 in the East Region in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches poll combined for 52 points at the NCAA Division II East Region Championships for their fifth regional championship in program history, second-straight championship, and 16th-straight ticket to the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship Saturday afternoon at Bethpage State Park in Bethpage, New York, hosted by Adelphi University.
The Skyhawks earned its fifth East Region title with 52 total points out of 28 teams, 11 points ahead of second place American International College who totaled 63 points. The Yellow Jackets also saw the individual winner as Leakey Kipkosgei won his third-straight Championship. Southern Connecticut State University, the third Northeast-10 Conference team, was the next institution across the finish line with 101 points, while Southern New Hampshire University and Roberts Wesleyan University rounded out the top five with 109 and 133 points, respectively.
Senior Lucas Taxter was the runner up to Kipkosgei clocking in a time of 31:15.30, just four seconds behind the three-time winner. Taxter collected his second NCAA Division II All-East Region honor, after he finished third last year.
Freshman Nickolas McNamee was about a minute and 42-seconds behind Taxter, as he finished seventh out of the 170 competitors in the 10-kilometer race. McNamee clocked in a time of 32:58.10 earning his first All-East Region honor in his first Regional Championship.
McNamee competed in his first East Regional Championship and tallied his first All-East Region honor |
Seniors Riley Dowd and Alexander Demeule placed 10th and 11th, respectively. Dowd crossed the finish line with a time of 33:03.90 earning his third All-East Region honor, while Demeule finished in 33:05.00, also for his third All-East Region accolade.
Sophomore Kevin Wheelock, in his first East Regional Championship, took home a 22nd-place finish clocking in a time of 33:35.20 and his first All-East Region honor. Classmate Jeff Pichie also earned his first All-East Region recognition in his first East Region Championship, finishing in 25th with a time of 33:44.40.
Senior Christopher Drace was the final Skyhawk across the finish line placing 48th with a time of 34:43.40.
With their top three finish, the Skyhawks have earned their 16th-straight title to the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships that will take place on Saturday, December 1 at the Bob O'Connor Golf Course at Schenley Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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