Drew’s Running Rangers goal was to improve throughout the season and in their final meet of the 2009 they proved that the goal was met. Four of the six Rangers on the men’s team ran personal bests over 8K at the ECAC Regional Championships in Williamstown, Mass. The men’s team placed 27th of 43 with Steve Monteleone leading the way in 67th place. There are some discrepancies in the women’s times, so more information on their performances will come later.
Steve Monteleone completed his breakout season by taking 67th place, the highest of any Ranger in more than four years. The sophomore ran a 28:32.9 over the 8K course at Mt. Greylock Regional High School. The time surpassed his previous best by nearly 20 seconds, even though it was set just a week ago at the Landmark Conference Championships. The great performance caps an outstanding rookie season for the transfer student. He came oh-so-close to winning the Brooklyn Invitational earlier in the year, was named the Landmark’s Runner of the Week in October and earned the highest place for a Drew runner in the history of the LC Championships.
If not for Monteleone’s arrival, freshman Zack Mower would have been able to claim nearly all of those honors. After posting one of the best freshman seasons in a long time for the Cross Country program, Mower was able to culminate his campaign with a personal best of 29:21.4, a full 12 seconds faster than his time at the Landmark’s last week and nearly a full minute faster than his time at the season opening meet. Mower just missed out on a Top 100 placement, taking 103rd overall.
Junior Andrew Ehlert placed third of the Rangers and 198th overall, just ahead of freshman Maxwell Rich in 200th. Rich was another of the Rangers to post a PR as he cut 20 seconds off his previous record, again set just a week ago.
The Rangers fifth place finisher was another freshman, Tim Barnum. Barnum took 211th with a time of 32:00.7, just under ten seconds faster than his time at the Landmark’s last week, another PR and 1:48 faster than his time at the season-opener.
Finally, senior Greg Del Russo closed out his gutsy career with a PR. The senior has battled through some though seasons during his four years on the Ranger squad to become a captain this year. He finished off his career in style, missing his PR set last season by just three tenths of a second at 33:00.4.
27. 779 Drew (30:33.3 152:46.5)
1 67 Steve Monteleone SO 28:32.9
2 103 Zack Mower FR 29:21.4
3 198 Andrew Ehlert JR 31:23.8
4 200 Maxwell Rich FR 31:27.7
5 211 Tim Barnum FR 32:00.7
6 (234) Greg Del Russo SR 33:00.4