Men's Cross Country | October 29, 2022

MECHANICSBURG, Va. – La Salle men's and women's cross country each placed second at the Atlantic 10 Championships, hosted by Richmond, on Saturday morning. The women's performance was highlighted by Liz Mancini's individual title.
 
The women's team placed second in the 15-team field with 74 points and a total time of 1:6:41.30 in the 5K. Loyola Chicago took the team title with 54 points. George Mason, George Washington and Dayton rounded out the top five. The finish marks the highest for Explorers since 2019 when the team claimed the title.
 
The men's team also placed second in the 15-team field with 48 total points and a total time of 2:01:47.80 in the 8K. Loyola Chicago took the team title with 37 points. George Washington, George Mason and Saint Louis rounded out the top five teams. The Explorers have now finished in first or second place in the championships every year dating back to 2018.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (WOMEN):

• Liz and El Mancini separated themselves from the pack early on remaining in first and second consistently throughout the course. Liz crossed the line first with a career-best time of 16:38.6 to take the individual A-10 title. The time marked the second-fastest time in conference history and the second-fastest course time. The title marked the first individual title for the graduate student. The performance not only landed her on the A-10 All-Conference First Team, but also awarded her the A-10 Most Outstanding Female of the Year honor. Mancini has now landed on the first team three times in her career including the last two consecutive years.
• El Mancini followed closely behind her sister to take second place. The graduate student crossed the line with a mark of 16:40.2. The time was the third-fastest time in A-10 Championship history and the third-fastest time on the course. She also landed on the A-10 All-Conference First Team for the fourth-straight year.
• The story of the season continued as Christine Mancini crossed the finish line just after her sisters in fourth place. Her time of 16:57.0 marked a new career-best time in the 5K for the junior. She earned the A-10 All-Conference First Team honor for now the third consecutive year.
• Jerika Lufrano raced in her first A-10 Cross Country Championships since her freshman season. The senior earned a career-best mark of 18:06.8 to land in 28^th place.
• Maeve Gimbert saw a career-best day with a new 5K top time of 18:18.7 to take 40^th place.
• Julia Flood (19:02.9), Emma Taylor (19:04.9) and Jenna Webb (19:07.8) all topped their previous 5K bests while Ella Verello's time of 19:27.2 marked her first collegiate 5K.

HOW IT HAPPENED (MEN):

• Ibrahim Kedir led the way on the men's side with a third-place finish and a time of 24:02.2. This is the highest finish in the championships for graduate student who finished fourth during his rookie season to earn the conference's Most Outstanding Male Rookie of the Year award. Kedir's finish put him on the A-10 All-Conference First Team for the fifth-straight year.
• Newcomer MacCaullum Rowe saw a career-best day claiming fifth place in his first-ever A-10 Cross Country Championships. Rowe recorded a time of 24:09.7, a new personal best 8K time. His fifth-place finish not only earned him a spot on the All-Conference First Team, but also awarded him the A-10 Most Outstanding Male Rookie Performer of the Year Award. An Explorer has not earned the honor since Alex Sandras claimed it in 2019.
• Taonga Mbambo placed in the top 10 recording a time of 24:17.6 for eighth place overall. Mbambo earned a spot on the A-10 All-Conference First Team, his third consecutive honor.
• It was a solid day for the La Salle newcomers as Finn Birnie raced in his first-ever championship placing 12^th. Birnie clocked in at 24:33.7 and marked the final Explorer of the day to earn a spot in the A-10 All-Conference First Team.
• This is the third-straight year that the men's team has had four runners land on the All-Conference First Team.
• James Ptack rounded out the top 20 with a time of 24:44.6. Veterans Alex Sandras and Matt Bridger recorded times of 25:51.8 and 26:06.3, respectively.
• Transfers David Butts and Teketel Tyson recorded times of 25:30.0 and 26:06.0. The 8K marked the first collegiate 8K for Tyson. Freshman Charlie Hazlett recorded a time of 25:46.2.