NASHUA, N.H. - - Sophomore runner Althea Davidson continues to set new ground for the Wilmington University cross country teams, placing fifth at the NCAA Division II Northeast Regional Cross Country Championships on Sunday, becoming the first Wilmington runner to qualify for the National Meet.
Davidson (New Castle, Del./William Penn) ran the 6K course in 21:52.9, leading all Wildcat finishers, and helping the women's team to a 16th place showing at the regionals. Mike O'Brian (Bear, Del./St. Mark's) led the men's team to a seventh place overall finish, earning All-Region honors by placing 22nd with a time of 31:16.5 on the 10K course.
The seventh place finish ties the best finish for the men's team at an NCAA Division II Regional meet, tying the 2009 squad that places seventh at Franklin Park in Boston, Mass.
Sophomore Richie Mitten finished 36th with a time of 31:57.4 while senior Bill Steele placed 44th in 32:09.6 on a bad wheel. Sophomore Matt Mossman placed 63rd with a time of 32:44.1 and freshman Jesus Amezquita finished 73rd in 33:02.0 to round out the Wildcat scoring. Wilmington finished with 238 points.
American International won the men's heat going away, winning with a combined score of 48. Bentley finished second with 4 points and Stonehill came in third with 84 points. Defending team champion UMass-Lowell placed fourth with 94 points while Southern Connecticut State rounded out the top five with 124 points.
On the women's side, Davidson led the Wildcats with her fifth place finish followed by junior Jeanette Halliburton 37th place finish in 23:09.2. Junior Whitney Hora places 74th in 24:14.2 while freshman Morgan Ferrick capped her first year as a Wildcat with a 133th place showing at the Regionals in 26:08.2. Senior Kristy McCrea placed 163rd in 27:37.0 in her final race as a Wildcat.
Stonehill effectively defended its team title with 67 points with Adelphi coming in second with 97 points. Saint Rose placed third overall with 161 points and American International came in fourth with 165 points. Southern Connecticut State rounded out the top five with 185 points. Wilmington's 412 points were good enough for 16th place overall.
Davidson has two weeks before she moves on to the NCAA Division II National Championship Meet on Saturday, November 17. The National Championship will be hosted by Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Mo. The 6K course is on the host's campus, the MSSU Cross Country Course.