HOLMDEL, N.J. – Monmouth University hosted the 2014 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Cross Country Championships on Friday morning at Holmdel Park in Holmdel, N.J., with the MU women’s team taking fourth and the men claiming seventh. Khari Bowen (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Township) was the top finisher for the men in 17th at 25:48, setting a new Monmouth course record by 30 seconds. Jenna Cupp (Newark Valley, N.Y./Newark Valley) was the highest women’s finisher in 18th with a time of 22:21.
“Jenna and Khari both did a great job leading the way for us,” said Head Coach Joe Compagni. “We were looking for a better result as a team, but we were proud to host the MAAC Championships and it was a great meet.”
Iona captured both the men’s and women’s championships, totaling 15 points on the men’s side and 20 on the women’s side. The Monmouth women totaled 136 points, while the men had 161. The women’s race was the first ever 6k race at Holmdel Park. The men’s course was a 5 mile track.
Freshman Benjamin Dillon (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) was the next to cross for the men after Bowen, placing 42ndwith a 26:41 mark. Directly behind him was Kevin Summonte (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township), barely a second behind, and just two seconds and two spots after that was Graham Huggins-Filozof (Freewood Acres, N.J./Freehold Township). Kevin French (Fishkill, N.Y./John Jay) crossed a pair of spots behind that, with Domenick D’Agostino (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) and Tommy Darlington (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem) rounding out Monmouth’s top seven. The men’s top five average of 26:33 is a school record. Dillon also breaks his own freshman course record at Holmdel.
On the women’s side, Cupp was 18th to pace the group. Freshman Allie Wilson (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven) raced to a 26th place spot, one notch ahead of Molly McKeon (Royersford, Pa./Pope John Paul II), with the pair separated by .04 seconds. Kendal Hand (Howell, N.J./Howell) grabbed 35th with a time of 23:02, while senior Mackenzie Roche (Freehold, N.J./Freehold) took 42nd at 23:12. Sydney Engelberger (Great Barrington, Mass./Monument Mountain RHS) was one spot behind Roche, with the duo separated by just .07 seconds.
The teams return to action in two weeks for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals at Penn State University in State College, Pa. on November 14.
