Nov. 20, 2006

Complete Results (PDF)

WASHINGTON - Brendan Fennell's 63rd-place effort led the American University Men's Cross Country team to a 26th-place team finish Monday afternoon at the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind.

The 2006 Patriot League Cross Country Champion was the Eagles' top finisher for the second straight year, traversing the wet, muddy 10-K course in 32:10.7, an average of 5:11 a mile. It was Fennell's top finish in three appearances at the meet and he was just a handful of spots away from earning All-American honors.

Almost a minute elapsed before the pair of Dan Beardslee and Steve Hallinan crossed the finish line next in 33:05.5 and 33:05.9, at 153rd and 155th, respectively. Beardslee ran a patient race, hitting the 5-K in 16:20 and reeling in numerous runners in the second half. Carlos Jamieson and Conor Lanz were not far behind in 170th and 172nd. Jamieson, just a sophomore ran 33:15.8 in a few strides ahead of Lanz who was timed in 33:21.9.

Junior Brian McCabe was American's sixth runner in 209th with a time of 33:51.0 and Awit Yohannes had a rare off day as AU's final finisher in 245th with a time of 35:11.1.

The Eagles top-five combined for 552 points, which was good for 26th overall.

Brigham Young University's Josh Rohatinsky was the individual champion and Colorado won the team title.

The race caps another outstanding season for the AU cross country programs. Earlier this year the men placed five runners on the All-PL teams while winning their fifth consecutive Patriot League title and fourth straight individual title. Head coach Matt Centrowitz was named the NCAA Men's Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year for the second time in three years as the men qualified for their third straight NCAA Championships. In addition, three runners emerged on the youthful women's team to fill the void left by 2005 graduate and three-time All-American Keira Carlstrom. Junior Cathleen Ford was named to the All-PL second team and fellow junior Kate Lilley finished in the top-20 at the PL Championships.

American will use the fitness gained this fall to springboard into the indoor track season which begins in two weeks.