Trio of Pirates Earn Top-50 Finishes at BIG EAST Championships

Friday, October 30

Mechanicsville, Va.

10 A.M.

Seton Hall University

Big East Championship

10/30/2026 1:11:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

MECHANICSVILLE, VA. – The Seton Hall men's and women's cross country teams opened their postseason schedules at the BIG EAST Cross Country Championships in Mechanicsville, Virginia, on Friday morning. The men earned a 9th place finish with 224 points, while the women finished in 10th place with 291 points.

How it Happened - Men

After falling ill at the start of the season, Aakash Arumugam returned to his 2025 form and finished atop the heap for the Pirates. After losing positions at the quarter-way point, Arumugam climbed nine spots in the back half of the race to finish in 41st place with a time of 25:08.40

Just like he had in every meet this season, Joseph Butler found himself among the Pirates' top runners. The senior maintained strong pace through the entire race, eventually running to a career-best 43rd place at the BIG EAST Championships in a time of 25:11.10.

In his final BIG EAST Championships, Jeffery Grynaviski continued his strong run of form to end the season. The stalwart veteran battled through the field, rising 20 spots by the end of the race to finish in 51st place with a time of 25:27.70.

Across the line fourth for the Pirates was junior Liam Griffiths. Like Grynaviski, Griffiths battled through the field, rising nine spots to 66th place with a time of 26:21.30.

The final points-scoring runner for The Hall ended up being senior Ethan Conrad. Conrad spent the early stages of the race running in a pack with multiple teammates as they worked to pounce at the end of the race. As others fell off the pace, Conrad held firm to end the race in 67th place with a time of 26:23.20.

How it Happened - Women
In her final BIG EAST Championships, Paige Quigley added another consistent race to land herself atop the timing screens for Pirates. Quigley held a steady pace, netting three spots by the end of the race to finish in 41st place with a time of 21:37.10.

Junior Destiny Lopez found herself in season-high second place for The Hall. Lopez parlayed a strong start to the race to a career-best 71^st place finish at the BIG EAST Championships.

In her first BIG EAST Championships, freshman Maeghan Joyce made the most of her debut on the conference stage. Joyce worked her way to 79^th place overall and a season-best third-place intrasquad finish with a time of 23:00.10.

Not far behind the Pirates' third runner was junior Laura Castagna. Castagna finished in 82^nd place overall with a time of 23:07.05.

Rounding out the final points-paying positions for the Pirates was another freshman runner who has had a stellar season. Caitlin Brown closed the race strong, rising through the field to 85th place with a time of 23:29.50.