NEW ORLEANS, La. (November 14, 2022)  – Senior Ronnie Melao, junior Liam Concannon and sophomore Tim Griffin of the Stevens Institute of Technology men's cross country team were named All-Metro Region, the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Monday.

The recognition was the first by a member of the men's cross country team since alumnus Greg Arabagian was recognized in 2015. 

"We are incredibly proud of the trio of Ronnie Melao, Tim Griffin, and Liam Concannon on their All-Region honors," head coach John Kolibab said. "We haven't had an All-Region performance on the men's cross country team since Greg Arabagian achieved the feat seven years ago and it was amazing to see us break that streak with three individuals. The hard work they've all put in since the end of the outdoor track & field season was on full display and I couldn't be more proud of their achievements."

Melao was the highest finisher for Stevens at the Metro Region Championship, finishing 17th out of 176 runners. The Westfield, New Jersey native used a 5:19.8 mile pace to complete the eight-kilometer course in 26:29.7. Over the course of the season, Melao trimmed over 40 seconds off his season best, culminating in a new PR at the Middle Atlantic Conference Championships, where he reached the finish in 26:07.5.

"Ronnie has been an undisputed leader of this team, and his leadership made everything this year possible," Kolibab said. "He led by example all season and every meet he somehow looked better than he did at the one before it. "His lack of missteps culminated in a wonderful performance, and the highest finish from a Stevens Men's Cross Country runner in a Regional Championship, since 2015."

Griffin used a 5:22.8 mile pace to finish the course in 26:449 to place 27th in the second-fastest 8k of his collegiate career. He's trimmed nearly 40 seconds off his 8k-time over the course of the season.

"Tim had the race of his life on Saturday," Kolibab commented. "While we knew he was a very talented runner, none of us could have expected this sort of breakthrough on the biggest stage.  When the lights have shined brightest, and we've needed someone to step up, Tim has always been there to answer the call; nerves of steel like that are hard to come by."

Concannon used a 5:25 mile pace to finish in 34th place with a time of 26:55.8. He has posted four sub-27:00 times this season.

"Liam has been one of our top runners since the moment he stepped onto campus," Kolibab shared. "His natural gifts and abilities are immense and some of his performances this year have been awe-inspiring. It was only a matter of time before Liam was able to garner such an honor and I can't wait to see how he continues to grow throughout the rest of his career."

A total of 350 men from 127 different programs and 350 women from 145 different programs earned the All-Region distinction by virtue of a top-35 finish at one of the ten regional sites this past weekend. 

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