NSU Sharks News
Men's Cross Country Sweeps Competition at UCF Black & Gold Invitational
Sharks placed seven in the Top-7 and one in ninth, totaling 15 points
Orlando, Fla. (Sept. 12, 2009) - Nova Southeastern University's men's cross country team won its second meet of the season, while the women were second as the Sharks raced at the UCF Black & Gold Invitational on Saturday morning at the UCF Cross Country Complex. The men swept the competition with 15 points, while the women totaled 70. "I was very impressed with the men's team and how we ran," said head coach Bryan Hagopian. "We stayed close in a pack. I'm also very glad the Meagher brothers went 1 and 2.
"The women's team got out to a slow start, but we worked our way up," continued Hagopian. "It gives us a boost of confidence going into next week's meet. We stuck to the game plan and executed it very well."
The Sharks dominated the men's 8K race. Matt Meagher (Sr., Mansfield, Mass) and Kevin Meagher (Fr., Mansfield, Mass.) led the way with first and second place finishes, respectively. Both crossed the finish line in a time of 27:18. Agustin Rey (Jr., Coral Springs, Fla.) was third with a time of 27:48. Jonathan Junkins (So., Lecanto, Fla.) ran 28:12 and placed fourth. John Besharat (Jr., Miami, Fla.) covered the course in a time of 28:26 for a fifth-place finish. Mike Greiner (Fr., Palm Coast, Fla.) took sixth with a time of 28:26, while Joe Peña (Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.) was seventh with a time of 29:01. Robert Rowe (Fr., Coral Gables, Fla.) rounded out the Sharks, running 29:26 and placing ninth.
In the men's team standings, NSU was first, followed by Flagler in second with 64 points. Warner was third with 85 points and Rollins was fourth with 90 points.
On the women's side, Krystal Porter (Sr., Raytown, Mo.) paced NSU with a fourth-place showing. Porter covered the 5K course in a time of 20:15. Tara Haddock (Sr., Citrus Springs, Fla.) was seventh with a time of 20:44. Alice Henley (Sr., Plantation, Fla.) ran 22:44 and took 15th. Kristina Williams (Fr., Fort Worth, Texas) was 21st with a time of 23:34, while StacyAnn Daley (So., Orlando, Fla.) crossed the finish line in a time of 25:40 and was 36th.
Host Central Florida won the women's team title with 17 points, followed by NSU. Flagler was third with 74 points, while Warner compiled 98 points and placed fourth. Rollins totaled 122 points and finished fifth.
NSU's men's and women's cross country teams are back in action on Friday when the Sharks travel to Gainesville, Fla., for the Mountain Dew Invitational held at the University of Florida Golf Course. The women's 5K race is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., while the men's 8K is set to go off at 7:00 p.m.
