Union Owls XC makes history at NJIT Highlander XC Challenge

 

It was a historic day for the women's program as they scored as a team for the first time in program history in the 5k (3.1 mile) race. As a team they thrived and defeated several NCAA DII and NCAA DIII programs. The women's team were lead by Jen Bueno (Elizabeth, NJ / Elizabeth HS) as she finished 56th out of 220 runners in the competition with a time of 21:24.1 (6:53 avg. mile). She edged out College of Staten Island (NCAA DII / ECC) top runner Elizabeth Nicotra and Maryland Eastern Shore's (NCAA DI / MEAC) Mckenzie Alibey. Bueno was followed by her teammates Naiomy Mezu (Elizabeth, NJ / Elizabeth HS)  and Sanyah Shamberger (Newark, NJ / Newark Collegiate Academy). Bueno, Mezu (24:34.0; 7:54.4 avg. mile) and Shamberger (25:29.4; 8:12.2 avg. mile) all recorded times that are faster than Union College's previous NJCAA Cross Country National Championship qualifier Luana Rampelotti who ran 25:34 back in 2021. Several more personal best's were recorded as Alayla Clermont (Rahway, NJ/Rahway HS) ran a personal best of 26:07.9, followed by Jen Villacis (North Plainfield, NJ/ Plainfield HS) running a personal best of 27:35.5 and Sara Velasquez (Linden, NJ/Roselle Park HS) running 30:58.4. The women's team finished 21st out of 40 pre entered teams and finished the competition as the best Region 19 team and 3rd best Junior College team at the competition behind only NJCAA cross country and track & field power, Suffolk CC and FIT. They also defeated Caldwell Univ. (NCAA DII / CACC) and Wilmington Univ. (NCAA DII / CACC).

 

On the men's side, Adelson Jimenez (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth HS) lead the way for the Owls in the Men's 8k (4.97 mile) race clocking in a personal best time of 31:37.3 (6:21.6 avg. mile). He was able to edge out Molloy Univ. (NCAA DII / ECC) Schnyder Germain, Kean Univ. (NCAA DIII / NJAC) Cory Rodriguez and several fellow Junior College Runners from schools such as Bergen CC, Brookdale CC, FIT, Ocean CC, Suffolk CC and many more. Jimenez was followed by four of his teammates, each of whom also ran personal bests. Xavier Rodriquez (Elizabeth, NJ / St.Joseph - Metuchen) followed Jimenez with a life time best of 34:15.3. Sebastian Lopez-Batista (Roselle, NJ / Abraham Clark HS) came through the finish line at 35:19.9. Dual sports athlete James Lapidus (Scotch Plains, NJ / Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS) ran across the finish line clocking in a time of 36:06.0 and JaQuan Dupree (Rahway / Rahway HS) rounding out the outstanding team performance with a time of 42:16.9. 

 

"Our Women's and Men's team competed and ran very well today." Coach Luginsland stated. "The women's team made history by scoring as a team and the men's team had a strong performance as well! We proved today that Cross Country and Track & Field is growing here at Union College and that we can compete with the very best not only amongst Junior College's but also some of the top NCAA programs in the area. This group is ready for regionals and nationals and the Union College community should be proud of these Owls and what they accomplished!"

 

Union College Owls Women's and Men's Cross Country Teams will compete on October 28th at the NJCAA Region 19 Cross Country Championships in at Lancaster County Central Park in Lancaster, PA. Thaddeus Stevens College will host the championship meet.

 

GO OWLS!

 

Union Owls Women's XC at NJIT, 10/7/2023