Sept. 1, 2006

KINGS PARK, NY - Sophomore Girma Segni (Bronx, NY) earned his first collegiate cross country victory as his first-place finish paced the Marist College men's cross country team to a tie for first place Friday afternoon at the Seawolves Invitational, hosted by Stony Brook University at Sunken Meadow State Park.

Segni completed the 5-kilometer course in 15:24.17, edging senior Brian Farrell of Stony Brook (15:25.36). The Red Foxes finished with 49 points, tying for the meet title with defending MAAC Champion Iona College, which also finished with 49 points.

A close-knit pack of Marist runners followed Segni across the line. Sophomore David Raucci (Clermont, NY) was eighth overall in 15:50.07. Junior Michael Rolek (Maplewood, NJ) was 11th in 15:57.77. Freshman Conor Shelley (Rockville Centre, NY) was 12th in 15:58.68. Sophomore Alex Emerel (Holmdel, NJ) rounded out the scoring pack by placing 17th in 16:10.65. Junior Tom Williams (Pleasant Valley, NY), 16:12, freshman Mike Cator (Ridgewood, NJ), 16:14 and senior captain Justin Harris (Wappingers Falls, NY) 16:15 were right behind the scoring pack, providing depth the Marist squad.

The first-place tie at the meet was the highest finish in school history at the annual season-operner for the Red Foxes. There were eight teams at the invitational.

The Red Foxes return to the trails on Saturday, September 9, when they travel to the Dartmouth Invitational in Hanover, NH.

Team standings:

1. (tie). Marist and Iona 49
3. Stony Brook 74
4. Quinnipiac 79
5. Fordham 114
6. Canisius 174
7. New York Tech 184
8. Ramapo 193

Individual results

1. Girma Segni 15:24.17
8. David Raucci 15:50.07
11. Mike Rolek 15:57.77
12. Conor Shelley 15:58.68
17. Alex Emerel 16:10.65
20. Tom Williams 16:12.01
23. Mike Cator 16:14.31
24. Justin Harris 16:15.51
31. Omar Sow 16:23.17
32. Rob Fleming 16:24.85
33. John Keenan 16:26.00
36. Tom Dixon 16:32.41
38. Kris Geist 16:34.64