|
Mount St. Mary's ended Fairleigh Dickinson's title run at five-straight with four straight titles from 1995-1998. St. Francis (PA) snapped the Mount's streak at four by taking three of the top five spots at the 1999 championship event. The Red Flash went one better at the 2000 meet, earning four of the top five places behind Stephen Ondieki, who went on to earn runner-up honors at the 2000 NCAA Championships, the best-ever placing for an NEC athlete. St. Francis (PA) won it all in 2001, 2002 and 2003 to join FDU as the only schools in NEC men's cross country history to capture five straight league titles. Quinnipiac broke the Red Flash streak in 2004, winning its first conference championship. St. Francis (PA) came back to claim its sixth crown in seven years on its home course in 2005. In 2005, St. Francis (PA)'s Ryan Sheehan became the first runner to become a three-time winner of the event. Quinnipiac won the event for the second time in three years in 2006, a race contested for the first time at historic Van Cortlandt Park. The Bobcats won again in 2007, then made it three straight titles and four in five years with another convincing victory in 2008. CCSU won its first conference championship in 2009 and tacked on eight more from 2010-17. CCSU became the first program in NEC history to win nine straight conference championships in any sports. In doing so, the Blue Devils broke the record formerly held by Quinnipiac women's cross country (eight straight, 2005-12). Mount broke the streak under blustery conditions in 2018 with the program's first title in 20 years. Wagner became a first time winner in 2019. With the 2020-21 championship shifted to late February, the Sehawks defended their title. Following a three-year hiatus, CCSU returned to the top in 2021 with a dominant performance. Wagner reclaimed its throne in 2022. CCSU regainted the crown in 2023 with five harriers among the top-six individual finishers. It was another blue wave in 2024 as CCSU completed a near sweep tio win its 12th NEC title.
FDU freshman Sam Chelanga established a meet record in 2006, covering the 8K course in a blistering 24:03. Two-time winners include FDU's Stephen Ondieki (1999 & 00) and Vinko Markovina (1992 & '93), Mount St. Mary's harriers Bernard Kitur (1994 & '95) and Daniel Kinyua (1997 & '98) and Wagner's Trausti Thorsteins (2019 & 2020-21). Kitur finished 35th in the 1995 NCAA Championship in 1995, while Kinyua was an All-American at 1997 nationals, finishing 13th. Peter Rono, the 1990 winner for Mount St. Mary's, won the 1988 Olympic 1,500 meter gold medal. CCSU's Craig Hunt qualified for nationals in 2013. CCSU had five different runners in five years win the individual title from 2010-14.
|