THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (Nov. 12, 2009) – The Maritime men’s varsity cross country team will compete in the NCAA Division III Atlantic Regional championship this Saturday at Letchworth State Park in Castile, N.Y. There are 41 teams and almost 300 runners entered in the postseason meet. The Privateers go into the NCAA meet coming off a second place finish in the Skyline Conference Championship.
Maritime is led by Skyline Conference Rookie of the Year, freshman Sam Rainard of Wheaton, Md. Rainard finished in fifth place at the conference meet, covering the five-mile course in 29:02. Freshman Luke Milano (Wantagh, N.Y.) also garnered All-Conference first team honors with his seventh place finish. Freshmen Gabriel Rosa (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) and Matt Taraboletti (Titusville, Fla.), along with senior team captain Lee Shoemaker (Mt. Wolf, Pa.), round out the top five for Maritime. Rosa and Taraboletti were each named to the All-Conference second team. Sophomore Tom Moskowitz (Massapequa, N.Y.), who was voted next year’s team captain by his teammates, and freshman Kevin Regan (Green Brook, N.J.) will also compete for the Privateers. Only seven runners from each college are allowed to run in the NCAA Regional meet.
“The Men of Maritime have had an outstanding season,” stated head coach Jim Driscoll. “Having an opportunity to run in the NCAA regional meet against the finest Division III teams on the East Coast is a nice reward and will be a great experience, especially for our freshmen, whose best days are still ahead of them.”
The Men’s championship will start at noon.