Results

Bronx, N.Y. - (Oct. 9, 2009) - Van Cortlandt Park played host to the 2009 Metropolitan Cross Country Championships this afternoon with Columbia University claiming first place in both the men's and women's competitions. Host Fordham placed fourth out of 14 teams in the women's competition, while the men finished fifth out of 13 teams.

Columbia took the top spot on the women's side with an impressive score of 21 points as all seven of the Lions top finishers, including individual winner Jackie Drouin (18:08) were in the top 10. Rutgers finished second (60), followed by NYU (91), Fordham (122), Iona (130), St. John's (193), Manhattan (212), Seton Hall (227) , Hofstra (280), Long Island (295), St. Peter's (314), St. Francis (NY) (327), Fairleigh Dickinson (357) and Wagner (363).

Fordham's Brigid Moriarty was the Ram's top finisher, taking 11th overall in 18:41, followed by Kerri Gallagher in 15th (18:51), Sheena Parand took 37th with a time of 19:37, while Mairin O'Connor (19:57) and Ashley Davis (19:58) finished right with each other for 49th and 50th places, respectively.

On the men's side of things, Columbia won with a score of 45 followed by Rutgers (63), NYU (70), Iona (86), Fordham (162), Manhattan (177), Wagner (210), Long Island (226), Hofstra (239), St. Francis (NY) (305), Fairleigh Dickinson (312), Seton Hall (345) and St. Peter's (353).

Rutgers' Nick Miehe won the individual title with his time of 25:45 followed by Columbia's Andrew Buchanan (26:06) in second.

Fordham's Clifton Hilario was not too far off the pace, finishing fourth with a time of 26:12. Freshman Julian Saad was the next Ram to cross the finish line with a time of 27:14, good for 34th, while Paul Szczepaniak (27:28), Samuel Stuart (27:48), and Ryan Campi (27:58) closed out the Rams' scoring with respective finishes of 39th, 50th, and 55th.