Seton Hall University
NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional
MXC Finishes Strong at NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional
11/15/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Nov. 15, 2013
BETHLEHEM, PA. - For the first time this season, the Seton Hall men's cross country squad had five underclassmen record a scoring time as sophomore Ryan Flannery (Forked River, N.J.) led the way for The Hall at Friday's NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship meet and was followed by four freshmen.
The Pirates finished 25th as a team in a highly-competitive field that featured many of the highest rated squads in the nation.
It was the third time in 2013 that Flannery set the pace for Seton Hall; and the fourth in his career overall. Two weeks after turning in a career-best 8K time at the BIG EAST Championship, Flannery surpassed his previous 10K personal-best, clocking a time of 33:23. One of the Pirates' most consistent contributors, Flannery has now established new personal records at the 6K, 8K and 10K distances this season and has only finished outside the SHU top-two on one occasion.
The only team member who has ranked as the top performer on the squad at more events than Flannery is freshman Victor Ricci (Narragansett, R.I.) who followed up his team-leading run at the conference championship by placing second on the team. Ricci completed the course in 33:33; extending his scoring streak to eight-consecutive meets which is tied for the team lead.
Freshman Cameron Quisenberry (Owensboro, Ky.) has also scored in the first eight meets of his career and in his first trip to the Regionals, he registered a time of 34:27 to finish third among all Pirates. Quisenberry recorded the second-fastest time on the team at the BIG EAST Championships, and now has six top-three team finishes to his credit.
Sean Kip (Union, N.J.) returned to the scoring group after a one meet absence, clocking in at 34:36 to rank fourth for the blue & white. Kip had scored in five consecutive meets prior to the BIG EAST Championship and ranks fifth on the team with six scoring efforts in his debut campaign.
Scoring for the second event in a row and the third time this season was Alex Mallue (Canton, Ohio) whose 34:54 mark was fifth-best on the team. Mallue is one of four newcomers who have scored for Seton Hall this season as the freshmen class has had a tremendous impact on the team's improved results this season.
Villanova swept both the team and individual titles as Patrick Tiernan led all competitors with a time of 29:57 to help the Wildcats to a collective score of 34.
The Seton Hall cross country squads wrap up the 2013 campaign next Saturday, November 23 when they return to Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. The men's team will compete at the IC4A Championships and races are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.
