The University of Rhode Island men’s cross country team concluded its season on Friday at the NCAA Division I Regional Championship, placing 18th out of 38 schools—the best finish in program history.
The Rams traveled to Hopkinton, New Hampshire, where the meet was hosted by Boston College, to take part in the 10-kilometer race and had two runners place in the top 50.
The meet capped one of Rhode Island’s strongest seasons in years. Before this weekend, the Rams won the New England Championship on Oct. 1 for the second time in three seasons and recorded their first top-three finish at the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship since 1980 on Nov. 1.
Third-year Nick Martin was the highest-finishing Ram of the morning, claiming 40th place with a time of 30:23.7, the best finish by any Rhode Island athlete in the meet’s history.
Six seconds behind Martin came third-year Garrett Hartline, who finished in 30:29.6 to take 46th place and the second-best finish in team history at the meet.
Martin and Hartline both finished in the top 50 out of 264 competitors at the Hopkinton Fairgrounds.
Rhody’s top runners kept a close distance with the leaders. Hofstra University first-year Frederick Kipkosegi won the race in 29:12.7; right behind Kipkosegi were Syracuse University fifth-year Peter Walsdorf (29:17.5) and Harvard University third-year Sam Burgess (29:18.6.).
“We were pretty happy with how we performed, hoping to be top 25; that was our end goal,” Hartline said. “Being a lot faster pace-wise than we expected, but next time I think we’re hoping to stay a little more composed and stick with that lead group for longer.”
URI sat comfortably in the middle of the pack through the early stages of the race.
“We as a team got out really well through those first two kilometers,” Hartline said. “Then I think we fell asleep in the second lap, [during] the 2-4 kilometer section. Next time we’d like to stay focused and make sure we’re fighting for a position the whole race and not giving anything in.”
Second-year Maddox Jordan was Rhode Island’s third finisher, placing 80th in 30:56.1 to give the Rams a top-80 result.
The final three Rams runners were third-year Jesse Principe, second-year Matthew Lucas and second-year Jason Padula, taking 174th, 193rd and 221st place, respectively.
“Those guys improved a ton,” URI Assistant Coach Brian Doyle said. “We’re taking guys from where they are and just continuing to have them improve and get to a next level, where now we’re going into next year feeling really good. Really awesome effort from all 10 guys.”
Syracuse took home the title with 32 points. Rhody accumulated 526 points, narrowly beating out Colgate University, who finished with 536.
After a standout season that included a New England Championship, a top-three conference championship finish and the best regional performance in program history, the Rams will carry momentum going into next year.
“For a couple of guys who really focused on cross country, next season started on Saturday, the day after the regional championship,” Doyle said. “So the goal for next year is to be even further up, trying to take a crack at trying to win the conference championship and be in the top 10 in the region or better.”
Following their cross country season, the athletes will look ahead to the indoor track and field season.
“For guys who really have expectations on them on the track, use this momentum and say, ‘okay, I’m in really, really good shape,’” Doyle said. “Now let’s go show up with the actual numbers on the track and really set the tone for the rest of the track guys, the throwers and sprinters and jumpers who put in so much work year-round.”
The indoor track season begins Dec. 4 with the URI Heptathlon, a home meet at Mackal Field House.
