By Kathryn Swenor
This year the Rangers men’s and women’s cross country teams look to advance their records and their rosters as they prepare for the season.
On the women’s team there are four newcomers, Jillian Longo (’18), Katherine Lee (’19) and Emily Rosales (’19), along with Paula Lopez (’20). As for the men’s team, they welcome newcomer Corey Tokarz (’20) who comes from Piscataway High School, where he was a four-sport athlete.
Both teams have many runners returning, including Dina Abdeljabbar (’17), who takes her role as team captain this season. Abdeljabbar will be joined by her twin sister Donia Abdeljabbar (’17), Victoria Emm (’17) and Zoe Hughes (’17).
Also returning for the women, is last season’s MVP, Kayla Jackson (’19). Fellow returners include Lisa Rojas (’18) and Uma Kantheti (’19)
Another MVP is returning to the men’s team, Christian Parenti (’19) The reigning MVP had a season-best 28:51.08 in the 8,000-meter run at Rowan last October. Anatole Colbert (’19) and Tiago Dos Santos (’18) each recorded their career-best times in the 8K, Colbert timed in at 32:07 while Dos Santos’ recorded a 34:53. Dos Santos will also continue as team captain.The final returner for the men is Kyle Majid (’19).
The season for the men’s and women’s cross country team has already started with one invitational in the books. The men’s cross country team finished first in the Monmouth University Invitational on Sept. 3, while the women set multiple career highs.
On the men’s side, Parenti timed in at 22:15.52, and placed third among all non-Division I runners. For the women, Rojas raced the 4K, running an 18:20.67 while Emm posted a 20:55.36. D. Abdeljabbar and Hughes beat their best marks with times of 18:45.11. for D.Abdeljabbar and 19.38.78 for Hughes.
Looking towards the rest of the season, the cross country teams inspire to get more championship experience, including today’s Landmark Conference Championships at Bicentennial Park in Northampton, Pa. when Moravian College hosts the invitational.
Going forward into the season, the team will get a taste of the NCAA Division III Atlantic Region Championships course on Oct. 15, when Rowan University hosts the Inter-Regional Border Battle at the West Campus in Glassboro, N.J.
[Image courtesy of Drewrangers.com]
Sept. 16, 2016
