November 13, 2021

The Basics

• The lead: Junior Matt Halvorsen was the top finisher to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology men's cross country team Saturday at the 2021 NCAA Division III Metro Region Championship.
• Location: Gloucester County Dream Park - Logan Township, New Jersey
• Short Story: Using a pace of 5:27 per mile, Halvorsen completed the eight-kilometer course in personal best 27:00.6 to lead Stevens' seven-runner contingent. Halvorsen completed the initial mile in 5:15, but moved up eight spots at the third checkpoint (24:40). The Bordentown, New Jersey native finished 42nd out of 161 competing student-athletes. As a team, the Ducks totaled 311 points to finish 12th out of 21 teams. 
• The results: Haverford placed two runners inside the top-five to amass 50 points in winning the inaugural 2021 Division III Metro Region team championship. The Fords' average time of completion was 25:51 and the five scoring runners were spread by 1:12. Individually, Ramapo's Chris Anderson used a 5:03 mile pace to complete the course in 25:03.2 to capture the region's individual title. 

Top Finishers

• The Ducks' average completion time was 27:39. 
• Stevens' top-five finishers were spread by 1:15 and the top seven were separated by 2:31. The Ducks' five-runner spread ranked fifth among the competing teams.
• Sophomore Jake Aylmer was the second Duck to finish the race, placing 49th with a time of 21:12.1. The Haddon Township, New Jersey native joined Halvorsen in setting a personal best in the race, topping his previous fastest 8k time by over 11 seconds.
• Using a 5:34 mile pace, junior Ronnie Melao finished 65th, completing the course in 27:40.1. 
• Sophomore Liam Concannon and first-year Jake Porco were the final scoring runners. Concannon completed the course in 28:03, while Porco set a new personal best, completing the course in 28:16.3. Porco moved up a combined 15 places over the second and third checkpoints. 
• First-year Mason Brewster completed the course in 28:51.5 and junior Troy Tomasch finished in 29:31.7 to round out the Ducks' contingent. 

From the Course - Head Coach Lance Harden

• "The course at DREAM Park was in good shape with solid footing and both teams faced strong winds in the exposed fields."
• "We had three men step up and have the finest cross races of their young careers. Matthew Halvorsen and Jake Aylmer asserted themselves from the gun, maintained pace, and competed all the way to the line. Matt improved his position by 11 places from the 1-mile mark to the finish and Jake gained 18 spots."
• "Jake Porco had the race of the day with a massive personal best, and he moved up 26 places from the 1-mile mark to the finish as our fifth man."

Up Next

• Continue to visit StevensDucks.com for men's cross country's offseason news and notes.

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