Cross Country Logs Top Five Team Finishes At Highlander Challenge

10/9/2022 8:14:00 PM

NEWARK, N.J. — The NJIT cross country teams played Homecoming host to over 20 teams each to the programs' 18th annual Highlander XC Challenge Saturday afternoon at nearby Branch Brook Park.

Both teams were exceptional in their home meet, with the Highlander men finishing as runner-up (with two runners in the top five and three in the top ten) and the Highlander women placing second among Division I teams and fourth overall with its top runner missing out on the top five by just two seconds.

"I am extremely happy with how our teams competed today. Last week, we worked on running as a pack as we competed against a very strong field at Paul Short. This week was all about getting out there, letting loose a little, racing the field and going for the win. We had many PRs or season bests and are trending in the right direction as we get closer to America East Championships. Every one of our runners continues to get better week to week and the goal is for that trend to continue until we reach our peak at AEs," head coach Jason Munsch said after the meet.

TOP 10 FINISHES:
Men: Matthew Morena (3rd, 25:37.25); Anthony Dvorsky (5th, 25:43.00); David Essel (8th, 26:00.14)
Women: Katherine Castano (6th, 18:41.66)

COMPLETE NJIT RESULTS (* College PR | + Season Best | = Season Debut)
Men (8K)
3. Matthew Morena (25:37.25) *+
5. Anthony Dvorsky (25:43.00) *+
8. David Essel (26:00.14) *+
20. Austin Essel (26:52.28) *+
21. Reyden Davies (26:52.49) +
—--
26. Joseph Mucci (27:15.45) *+
32. William Prevost (27:43.20) *+
33. Daniel Robles (27:48.46)
62. Jackson Royds (29:41.18) *+
DNF: Fabian Herrera

Women (5K)
6. Katherine Castano (18:41.66) *+
15. Kimmie Harding (19:32.54)
19. Nadia Zhecheva (19:53.67)
22. Laila Hill-Glover (20:00.36) +
67. Sanai Jenkins (23:02.60) *+
—--
134. Jenna Keith (28:35.46) =

OTHER NOTES

Castano's time set a new program course record for Branch Brook Park.
Seton Hall took first place in both the men's and women's races.

NEXT UP
NJIT will have one more tune up race before the America East Championships at the end of the month (October 29) - the University of Vermont Fall Foliage Invitational on Sunday, October 16.

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