Ed Moran Wins Race, Named Performer of Meet
HUNT VALLEY, MD - On the strength of four runners in the top-five and seven in the top-10, William and Mary men's cross country captured its fourth straight Colonial Athletic Association Cross Country Championship with a score of 20 points. Three-time All-American Ed Moran (Dayton, NJ), the defending individual champion, claimed the victory again, earning Performer of the Meet status for the second consecutive year. The Tribe's dominance at the top of the standings translated into a low score of 20 for the squad, easily outpacing runner-up James Madison, which tallied 54, and third place Delaware, which scored 76. The College's score is the fourth lowest ever in CAA history, behind only three others set by the Tribe (17 in 2001, 18 in 1994 and 19 in 1990). The title is the team's 11th overall, which included five straight from 1993 through 1997, and came at the hilly and challenging Oregon Ridge Park Course in Hunt Valley, MD. Seven Tribe runners earned all-conference designation by placing in the top-12 at the Championship.The already slow course, both from numerous hills and wet conditions, was further slowed by sunny and hot conditions which created temperatures in the high 80s which runners had to endure. After racing to an early lead, Moran backed off his torrid pace to run a deliberate race, finishing the 8,000m course in 25:18. Complementing Moran's win, 2002 CAA Rookie of the Year Matt Keally (Virginia Beach, VA) snared All-CAA honors with his third place after running a 25:50. Fellow sophomore Jason Schoener (Grand Blanc, MI) earned his first all-conference accolades by finishing just behind Keally in fourth with a 25:52. Senior Adam Otstot (Richmond, VA) took fifth for the team, while freshman David Murphy (Warwick, RI) impressed with a seventh place showing. Juniors Charlie Hurt (Charlottesville, VA), ninth, and Pat Comstock (Portsmouth, VA), 10th, rounded out the Tribe finishers earning All-CAA honors.
Two other freshman turned in solid performances, as Adam Tenerowicz (Blackstone, MA) and Keith Bechtol (Alexandria, VA) came home 15th and 17th, respectively. Senior Jon Healey (Wayne, NJ) took 19th and junior Matthew Maline (Herndon, VA) placed 24th. Freshman Dan Nally (Warrenton, VA) came home in 34th.
The Tribe will next compete at the UVA Cavalier Open on November 8th in Charlottesville, VA.