College Cross Country

Men 17^th at ICAAAA, Women 7^th at ECAC

BRONX, NY- Over 70 Division I programs competed at the men's ICAAAA Championships and the women's Eastern College Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships, held at Van Cortlandt Park Saturday.

The Rider women took part in the 27^th ECAC Women's University Division race and placed seventh of 22 teams. "The women ran really, really well today," said head coach Bob Hamer. 

For the Rider women, junior Megan Elgin (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks East) placed sixth among the 215 runners, covering the 6,000 meter course in 18:35. Just behind her was senior Heather Giovagnoli (Royersford, PA/Spring Ford), who placed ninth in 18:39.

"Up front we were very, very good," Hamer said. "Megan ran a great race and Heather was right with her. Both ran 20 seconds faster than any of our women have ever run this course."

The Rider men competed in the 103^rd IC4A Men's Championship Division race, and placed 17^th.

"We didn't have our best day today," Hamer said.  "We were just a little bit off. But it was a good finish to the year."

For the Rider men, junior Sean Donohue (Cliffwood Beach, NJ/Matawan) placed first among the Broncs for the first time in his career, covering the five-mile course in 25:57 to place 45^th among the 154 runners.

"Sean ran a really nice race for us," Hamer said.  "He's been a steady force for us all year long. It was nice to see him get a nice finish. He was battling out there. He did a nice job."

Freshman Anthony Dentino (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) placed 69^th overall in 26:14, freshman Nasser Zayer (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) was 82^nd in 26:31, and senior Michael Lindner (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon Central) was 88th in 26:35.

Also for the Rider women, freshman Emily Ritter (Milsboro, DE/Sussex Tech) placed 45^th in 19:20, junior Erin Fitzgibbons (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville) was 64^th in 19:36, and junior Paige McAtee (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) was 81^st in 19:48.

Rider senior Kelli Kaelin (Little Egg Harbor, NJ/Pinelands Regional) was 102^nd in 20:09 and freshman Josephine Boyle (Pleasant Valley, NY/Arlington) was 108^th in 20:14.

"All of our women PR'd on this course today," Hamer said.  "That's a great thing from a coaching standpoint."

Also for the Rider men, junior Sean McCullough (Plymouth Meeting, PA/La Salle) finished 96^th in 27:01, sophomore Billy Hackmeister (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville) was 98^th in 27:02 and sophomore Corey O'Neill (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) placed 114^th in 27:37.

"Billy Hackmeister ran a personal best and that was really great," Hamer said.

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