Roadrunner Cross Country Coach Ryan Hughes hopes his men's and women's teams will close out the Fall 2022 season on a high note when they compete in this Saturday's NJCAA Division III National Championship Meet at Stanley Park in Westfield, MA.
The Women have perhaps the best shot at competing for a title, entering the meet nationally ranked. Oxford Emory enters as the defending D III National Champion.
The Runners had five team members earn All-Region 19 honors last weekend during the Region championship meet at White Clay Creek Park.
The Women's team, led by All-Region performers Autumn Heaton, Mackenzie Cochran, Alyssa Connor, Ashton Wiseley, and Susana Serrano, cruised to the team title with 15 points.
"We're excited and focused to compete at our highest levels in the National meet," said Heaton. "We expect to the pace to be much faster and we're ready for the challenge."
Heaton turned in the team's fast time in 22:24.98, good for second place overall in the Region 19 D III race, followed by Cochran (3rd, 23:43.60), Connor (4th), Wiseley (5th) and Serrano (7th). Thaddeus Stevens College's Kylynn Frankfurt won the D III individual crown in 21:27.90.
In men's competition, Roadrunner freshman runners CJ Gilmore and Joey Malec each enjoyed outstanding outings in earning All-Region honors as the Runners placed second overall to Brookdale. Along with teammates Charlie Hepler, Derek Wyllie and John Schilling, they will get another challenge from Brookdale along with teams such as defending national champion Jolier (IL( and College of DuPage.
Gilmore (5th, 30:15.20) and Malec (6th, 30:18.40) earned All-Region honors with Hepler (8th, 30:32.20) falling just short of Region all-star status.
"Hopefully we can bounce back at nationals,: said Coach Hughes. "We narrowly lost the region meet to Brookdale, so we will need to make some adjustments and hopefully have our lowest times of the season."
NJCAA Division III National Cross Country Championships
November 5, 2022
Stanley Park, Westfield, MA
Women's Race: 10 am
Click Below for RCSJ Women's Roster
https://rcroadrunners.com/sports/wxc/2022-23/roster
Men's Race: 11 am
Click Below or RCSJ Men's Roster
https://www.njcaa.org/sports/mxc/Record_Book/index