October 15, 2022

The Basics

• The lead: Senior Ronnie Melao was the top finisher to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology men's cross country team Saturday at the Connecticut College Invitational. 
• Location: Harkness Park - Waterford, Conn.
• Short Story: After lengthy travel issues caused the team to be significantly delayed in reaching the course, Melao used a 5:18.4 mile pace to complete the eight-kilometer course in a personal-best time of 26.22.4 to lead the Ducks' 16-runner contingent, finishing 124th out of 382 runners. His previous fastest 8k (26:46.96) came earlier this season at the Dutchmen Invitational. As a team, Stevens, who had little preparation time for the race, finished 22nd out of 23 teams, totaling 648 points. No. 2 MIT won the team title by accumulating 46 points with three of the Engineers' scoring runners finishing in the top 10. No. 9 Williams was second with 78, No. 30 Middlebury (154), No. 16 Saint Olaf's (160) and No. 13 Haverford (168) rounding out  the top five teams. Individually, Williams' Elias Lindgren used a blistering 4:46.4 mile pace to win the individual title with a time of 23:43.3, setting a new course record.
• Of note: A total of 10 teams ranked in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) Top-35 Poll competed in the race. 

The Finishes

• Stevens' top-five finishers were spread by 42.5 seconds and the top seven finishers were separated by 1:06.6 in the fourth 8k race of the season.
• Stevens averaged 26:44.58 in completing the course. The Ducks' average time of completion was 6.12 seconds faster than the team that finished directly in front of them (Springfield) in the standings.
• A total of 10 Ducks posted 8k personal-best times.
• Junior Jake Aylmer and senior Matt Halvorsen were the next two finishers for the Ducks, finishing the race in 26:41.5 and 26:42.9, respectively. The time was the third-fastest 8k in Aylmer's career, while Halvorsen posted his first sub-27-minute time in setting a new PR.
• Sophomore Tim Griffin used a 5:24.2 mile pace to finish the course in 26:51.2 to set a new PR as the Ducks' fourth finisher. Junior Liam Concannon finished the course in 27:04.9 to round out the top five.
• Junior Frank Orlando (27:20.4) and sophomore Mason Brewster (27:29) completed the top seven. The time set a new PR for Orlando, while Brewster, who set a new personal best earlier in the season, ran his second-fastest career 8k.
• First-year Danny Jutras and sophomore Jake Porco were the next two runners to complete the course. Jutras finished the course in 27:51.7, while Porco was close behind at 27:53.4. The time was the fastest eight-kilometer race of Porco's career.
• Senior Troy Tomasch used a 5:37.7 mile pace to complete the course in 27:58.6 to also set a new PR. The fourth-year runner has trimmed nearly 20 seconds off his initial 8k time of the season.
• Junior Bryan Onody (28:12.3) and first-year Mick Barbi (28:17) were the next pair to reach the finish. The times set new personal bests for each runner.
• First-year Caleb Stephen (28:45.5 - new PR), sophomore Xavier McWilliams (30:35.2 - new PR), senior Kajetan Leitner (30:48.2) and senior Andrew Donahue (31:18.9) rounded out the Ducks' contingent.

From the Course - Head Coach John Kolibab

• "We faced quite a bit of adversity as a team today. When things happen that are out of your control, you have two options: you can either let it affect you and get inside your head, or you can make the most of what you are given. As a team, we showed incredible resolve and positivity, and while it was by no means a perfect day, it was great to see our teams still keep their heads up."
• "We had some exceptionally strong performances today. Of the 16 men we had competing, 10 were still able to have lifetime bests. Running the fastest 8k of your life after six hours on a bus takes a tremendous amount of mental fortitude. We knew going into the race that it was going to be a rough day and to come out on the other side with more than half of the team running their personal best was all we could have asked for. I'm incredibly proud of the entire group today."

Up Next

• Men's cross country returns to the course on Oct. 29 for the Middle Atlantic Conference Championship. The event will be hosted by Lebanon Valley College and contested at the Union Canal Tunnel Park.

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