Freshman cross country runner Dale Leonard won the NCAA Women’s Metro Regional Championships, hosted by Rowan University, with her time of 21:41.9 in the 6k. Leonard finished 14 seconds ahead of any other participant in the race.
Overall, the women’s team finished in sixth place with 203 points — the highest finish in program history. Junior Suzanne Zaugg finished ninth overall with a time of 22:18.9, and junior Zoey Cassavell finished 18th overall with a personal best time of 23:01.2. Freshman Kiera Gregory also had a respectable day with her time of 25:47.4.
Leonard, Zaugg and Cassavell were each named to the NCAA Metro All-Regional team. Leonard, the first champion in program history, will go on to compete at the NCAA Championship on Saturday, Nov. 18 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Ramapo’s men’s team placed 11th overall in the same tournament with 309 total points. Finishing first for the Roadrunners and 41st overall was junior Ian McCauley with a time of 23:03.6.
Second on the Roadrunners and 46th overall was senior Jason Mercado with a time of 26:13.8. Junior Mohamad Nidaazzi crossed the finish line 58th overall with his time of 26:40.6. Sophomore Ryan Pena was the fourth Roadrunner to finish with a time of 26:52.2, and senior Anthony Bertollo was the fifth Roadrunner and 99th overall contestant to finish with a time of 28:27.6.
With no member of the men’s team qualifying for the NCAA Championship, this race marked the end of the cross country season for Ramapo.
wjackso2@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of Ramapo Athletics
