Skyhawks finish third out of 26 teams
Taxter runs to his second-straight runner up mark at regionals earning his third All-East Region honor (PHOTO BY: Patty Morgan) |
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (November 9, 2019) – The Stonehill College men's cross country team, who is ranked No. 3 in the East Regional U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) finished third out of 26 teams at the NCAA Division II East Regional Cross Country Championships Saturday afternoon at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, hosted by Jefferson University.
Placing third, Stonehill will now advance to its 17th-straight NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship hosted by California State, Sacramento on Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento, California on Saturday, November 23.
Roberts Wesleyan College totaled 55 points for the win, as American International College was the runner up with 65 points and the individual champion, Ezra Mutai. Stonehill College combined for 82 points, edging out Franklin Pierce University who finished fourth with 97 points and Southern Connecticut State University rounded out the top five teams with 117 points. At the five-kilometer split, Stonehill sat second with 71 points, and American International wasn't far behind with 84 points.
Senior All-American Lucas Taxter led the way for the Skyhawks as he repeated his runner up performance from last year. He clocked in a time of 31:41.0 and earned his third All-East Region honor.
McNamee earned his second All-East Region honor finishing in eighth place (PHOTO BY: Patty Morgan) |
Nickolas McNamee, who competed in his second East Regional Championship placed eighth overall for his second All-East Region accolade. The sophomore finished the 10-kilometer race in 32:09.0. Kevin Wheelock was the next Purple & White across the finish line as he earned his second All-East Region award in as many races with a 17th-place finish out of 168 competitors. The junior crossed the finish in 32:24.8.
Shane Braz rounded out the Skyhawks All-Region performers in his first NCAA appearance. The sophomore placed 24th with a time of 32:32.6. Reilly Johnston, who was most recently named Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Year, finished 31st with a time of 33:03.3.
Freshman Colin Black and Jeff Pichie rounded out the Skyhawks seven runners finishing 36th and 46th, respectively. Black, in his first NCAA appearance, ran the 10k in a time of 33:19.3 and Pichie, in his second appearance, finished the race in 33:46.4.
With the third-place finish, Stonehill will travel to Sacramento, California to compete at the Haggin Oaks Golf Complex for the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships on Saturday, November 23, hosted by California State, Sacramento.
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