Men's Cross Country Victorious in Season Opener
09/01/07
The New York University men's cross country team, which finished as the 2006 NCAA Division III National Championship Runner-up, opened its 2007 campaign with a victory at the Monmouth University Cross Country Kickoff in Lincroft, New Jersey, on Saturday, September 1.
Head coach Nick McDonough did not run any of his seven participants from last season's NCAA Championship, yet the Violets still produced a comfortable victory.
NYU finished with five runners among the top-10 and accumulated 40 points, easily out-distancing second place University of Albany (71 points).
Sophomore Calvin Lee was NYU's top finisher, taking fifth place individually with a time of 19:19. He was followed by freshman Matt Turlip (6th place, 19:20), junior Robert Joynt (8th, 19:21), and sophomore Zach Maher (9th, 19:31).
NYU's other scorer was senior Colin Ryan, who finished 12th and clocked in at 19:36 over the 6,000 meter (3.7 miles) course in Thompson Park.
"It was a very solid performance for where we are at this point of the season," McDonough said.
Also finishing among the top-20 for the Violets were junior Mark Hess (13th, 19:38), freshman Joseph McKenney (17th, 19:48), and freshman Noah MacNeil (18th, 19:51).
"The guys ran together most of the way and then really worked the last mile," McDonough explained.
Overall, Temple University finished in third place with 79 points, followed by host Monmouth (108) and Wagner College (118). Felician College (131), Long Island University (260) and Drew University (315) rounded out the eight-team field.
The Violets return to action when they host the NYU Invitational at Van Cortland Park on Saturday, September 15.
"All my runners should be returning to action for that meet," McDonough revealed.