Men's Cross Country Races for First NEC Title Since 2008 on Saturday at 12 p.m. hosted by Bryant University

Men's Cross Country Homepage
Men's Cross Country Schedule/Results
NEC Men's Cross Country Homepage 

The traditionally dominant Quinnipiac men's cross country team looks to regain its championship form after finishing sixth at the 2011 Northeast Conference Championship. After finishing no worse than second from 2003-09, the past two seasons have been a struggle, including its 2011 performance, the Bobcats finished eighth in 2010. Another year however and with the recent influx of talent, especially at the top with senior Rich Klauber (Thomaston, Conn.) and freshman Brendan Copley (Colchester, Vt.), Quinnipiac looks to reclaim their stranglehold on the NEC.

Season Highlights

The Bobcats began the year with an impressive second-place showing at the Stony Brook Invitational. Klauber and Copley burst onto the scene with a 2^nd-place and 5^th-place overall result, respectively. Klauber took home the NEC Co-Athlete of the Week honors while Copley earned his first NEC Rookie of the Week. It was their highest team finish in a race since the 2011 Stony Brook Invitational.

The following week Quinnipiac ran the same course they will be running on Saturday at the Shawn M. Nassaney Memorial Race hosted by Bryant University. Copley and Klauber again dominated with 12^th and 14^th-place showings and helped the team to a 4^th-place finish out of 12 teams. The pairing had gone consecutive weeks finishing as the top Bobcat competitiors.

The Quinnipiac Invitational featured an impressive showing from senior Mike Levene (Redding, Conn.). Levene navigated through traffic, coming all the back from eighth-place, and nearly bested the second-place runner in the final 100 yard sprint. He ended up with a 3^rd-place finish and was followed shortly by sophomore Spencer Mannion (Brookfield, Conn.) in 5^th-place.

The Quinnipiac men's cross country team put together perhaps their best race of the season at the Lehigh Paul Short Men's 8k Brown Race. Klauber navigated his way through a massive field of 225 runners to come away with a 6^th-place overall finish. The dynamic duo again led the way as Copley was right behind in 22^nd-place. Overall, the team finished in 12^th-place out of 33 collegiate teams. The pairing was awarded the NEC Athlete and Rookie of the Week for the second time of the season later that week.

Klauber again showed he is in top-form at the New England Championships as he placed 8^th overall in a field that featured a season-high 261 competitors. He led the Bobcats to a 23^rd-place result out of 37 teams, up 10 spots from last year's 33^rd-place finish at the same event. The top-10 finish was the third of the season for Klauber and earned him his third NEC Athlete of the Week and did so establishing a new personal-best time of 24:35.80.

The team was backed by Copley in the Princeton Invitational as the freshman sensation placed 66^th overall with a personal-best 25:17. The two-time NEC Rookie of the Week finished the 8k as the second-fastest NEC freshman at the event.

Top 10 Projected Runners For 2012 NEC Championship

Edgar Carrasco

One of only three Bobcats to compete in every event this season, the senior will look to improve upon his 29:35.7 finishing time at last year's NEC Championship.

Individual Results (team finish/overall finish) during 2012 season

7^th/42^nd               21:50.70                              Stony Brook Invitational

8^th/109^th             30:37.80                              Nassaney Race

5^th/12^th                29:25.70                              Quinnipiac Invitational

7^th/264^th             30:22                                    Paul Short Run

1^st/91^st                 27:16.11                              New England Sub-Varsity

8^th/190^th             27:18                                    Princeton Invitational

Jacob Cetera

Competed in every event during the 2012 season and finished with a season-best time of 26:53.78 at the New England Championships. The senior will look to leave his mark and help guide the Bobcat to their first title in four years.

Individual Results (team finish/overall finish) during 2012 season

6^th/29^th                21:00.82                              Stony Brook Invitational

6^th/88^th                28:49.90                              Nassaney Race

4^th/9^th                  28:51.5                               Quinnipiac Invitational

6^th/166^th             27:47                                    Paul Short Run

6^th/182^nd            26:53.78                              New England Varsity

7^th/185^th             27:14                                    Princeton Invitational

Brendan Copley

Easily one of the best performers all year for the Bobcats has been the freshman Copley. He is a two-time NEC Rookie of the Week honoree and has placed among the first two finishers for Quinnipiac in every race he has competed this season.

Individual Results (team finish/overall finish) during 2012 season

2^nd/5^th                 19:49.87               Stony Brook Invitational

1^st/12^th                26:09.70              Nassaney Race

2^nd/22^nd              25:55                   Paul Short Run

1^st/66^th                25:17                   Princeton Invitational

Thomas Dextradeur

The sophomore came into the 2012 season off a 37^th-place showing at the 2011 NEC Championship and has been a solid competitor all season for the Bobcats. He hasn't finished outside the top-five among Bobcats all season for Quinnipiac including three straight third-place finished on the team.

Individual Results (team finish/overall finish) during 2012 season

5^th/19^th                20:38.52                              Stony Brook Invitational

3^rd/35^th               27:05.5                                 Nassaney Race

3^rd/132^nd            26:11.8                                 New England Varsity

3^rd/150^th             26:24                                    Princeton Invitational

Dan Fox

The freshman from Illinois has put together a strong first year with the Bobcats giving the team great depth going in his first NEC Championship event. Competing in all six events this season, Fox had his best showing at the New England Championship where he finished with 26:43.45.

Individual Results (team finish/overall finish) during 2012 season

3^rd/11^th               20:17.60                              Stony Brook Invitational

5^th/52^nd               27:41.5                                Nassaney Race

3^rd/8^th                  28:48.8                                Quinnipiac Invitational

4^th/139^th             27:21                                    Paul Short Run

5^th/173^rd             26:43.45                               New England Varsity

6^th/171^st              26:47                                    Princeton Invitational

Rich Klauber

The 2008 NEC Outstanding Performer and Freshman of the Year helped guide the Bobcats to their last NEC Championship in his first season with the team. He won the event in 2008 by just over 13 seconds and followed up with a 2^nd-place showing at the 2009 NEC Championship. The three-time NEC Athlete of the Week in 2012 looks to continue his dominating season and lead the Bobcats back to the top spot.

Individual Results (team finish/overall finish) during 2012 season

1^st/2^nd                  19:17.38                              Stony Brook Invitational

2^nd/14^th               26:20.10                              Nassaney Race

1^st/6^th                   25:23                                    Paul Short Run

1^st/8^th                   24:35.80                              New England Championships

Mike Levene

The Bobcat senior Levene returns for an encore performance of the 2011 NEC Championship where he crossed the line in 29^th-place with a time of 27:54.4. The senior leader ran inspired at his last home meet at the Quinnipiac Invitational this season with a 3^rd-place showing.

Individual Results (team finish/overall finish) during 2012 season

1^st/3^rd                   27:48.5                               Quinnipiac Invitational

3^rd/99^th               26:53                                    Paul Short Run

7^th/192^nd            27:01.98                              New England Varsity

4^th/155^th             26:27                                    Princeton Invitational

Spencer Mannion

Coming off a dominating freshman campaign the sophomore has been up-and-down all season. The former three-time NEC Rookie of the Week tied for the most of any freshman in the NEC last season. Mannion began the year with a less than stellar 7^th-place among Quinnipiac runners but has since followed with three 2^nd-place results among Bobcat competitors as he seems to be peaking at just the right time for the Championship event.

Individual Results (team finish/overall finish) during 2012 season

7^th/89^th                28:50.0                                Nassaney Race

2^nd/5^th                 27:53.2                                Quinnipiac Invitational

4^th/126^th             27:15                                    Paul Short Run

2^nd/87^th               25:51.25                              New England Varsity

2^nd/106^th            25:42                                    Princeton Invitational

Matt Mensher

Another freshman had a great debut season for the Bobcats with three 4^th-place results in addition to a 5^th-place for Quinnipiac runners. He is one of three first-year runners for Quinnipiac entering the decisive event of the season.

Individual Results (team finish/overall finish) during 2012 season

4^th/13^th               20:20.74                              Stony Brook Invitational

4^th/41^st               27:16.7                                 Nassaney Race

5^th/149^th             27:25                                    Paul Short Run

4^th/162^nd            26:37.17                              New England Varsity

Rich Stoliker

The junior provides another established veteran for the Bobcats as he works his way back into shape after only running in one race this season.

Individual Results (team finish/overall finish) during 2012 season

5^th/167^th             26:38                                    Princeton Invitational