Last week, the NYU men’s cross country team did not move in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division III poll. Even after a win in their opening race, NYU stayed steady at their 12th place ranking. Now they are set to move up in the standings after yet another win at Saturday’s Monmouth Invitational.
With a score of 32 points, NYU cruised to an easy win thanks to solid running from the entire team. Six out of the top 10 finishers at the tournament came from NYU, with sophomore Sebastian Oja leading the way with a fourth place finish and a time of 26:55.8 over five miles. Senior Dylan Karten finished 10th in his first race of the season, and senior Kevin Bonilla, one of his co-captains, finished sixth with a time of 27:06.8.
“Our top guys worked together, and Dylan ran a great race right with them,” assistant coach Jon Phillips said. “He’s real fit, and I’m excited to see how his season will progress.”
This was the NYU men’s cross country team’s second consecutive win, with both victories coming at Monmouth University events. The next win may help pull NYU ahead of fierce conference rivals Washington University, who are currently ranked third in the nation.
“Our first true test is going to be at Williams this weekend with a lot of ranked teams in the northeast racing up there,” Phillips said. “It’ll give us a better sense of our expectations for the rest of the season.”
The NYU men’s cross country team look for their third straight win when the team travels to Williamstown, Mass., to compete in the Williams Purple Valley Classic on Sept. 22.
Women’s cross country came in fourth of six teams this weekend, at the Monmouth Kickoff tournament. Last weekend, at the Monmouth Invitational, the women had come in second of eight teams and the first of the three non-Division I teams. The Violets are now ranked 19th in the USTFCCCA Division III poll.
The Violets’ top finisher was junior Emily Cousens, who placed third at the invitational with a time of 18:53:20. The freshmen all finished well with Eloisa Cusi coming in 10th with a time of 19:21:30, Lily Corsaro in 13th with a time of 19:45:0 and Louisa Warwick in 23rd with a time of 20:42:70. The fourth best finish for NYU was by sophomore Alyssa Binczyk, who had a time of 20:25:4 for a 21st-place finish.
Senior Kirsten Keller and senior captain Georgina Norton both did not compete this weekend for NYU. Norton had the flu and was unable to run during the week leading up to the race.
“I am feeling 100 percent and getting back to solid training,” Norton said. “I will be racing this week at Williams and am looking forward to our first 6k of the season.”
The NYU women’s cross country team will next compete on Sept. 22, at the Williams Purple Vally Classic at Williamstown, Mass.
A version of this article appeared in the Monday, Sept. 17 print edition. Sebastien van Heyningen is a deputy sports editor. Mary Jane Dumankaya is a deputy sports editor. Email them at [email protected].
