Andy Weaver Puts Delaware Club Cross-Country on the Map with NIRCA National Club Cross Country Championship
November 14, 2011
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. - - In its first season of existence, the University of Delaware men’s track and cross-country club team has put its self on the map.
Senior runner Andy Weaver finished ahead of the field in the National Club Men’s 8K at the NIRCA National Club Cross Country Championships on Saturday, November 12, beating the McAlpine Creek Park course in 23:59.
Weaver is the first club cross-country national champion in Delaware history, helping his team finish tied for fourth overall. Delaware’s top five runners all crossed the finish line in the top-50, awarding the team 152 points.
Aidan Galasso completed the course in 25:09 for a 16th place finish, followed by Chris Warren’s 41st place finish in 25:49. Rounding out the top five were Mark Hannagan (46 – 25:47) and Rob Gorecki (48 – 26:00).
“Saturday was a great day for Andy,” head coach Jim Fischer said. “Over 500 people started the men’s race and Andy beat them all. That is truly special! It is great that the men had all five scoring places in the top-50 and finished fourth as a team in their first experience with the NIRCA.”
Illinois won the National Club Men’s 8K with 87 points, followed by Iowa State (115) and Virginia (128). Minnesota finished tied with Delaware to round out the top five-team standings.
Nicole Rittman was the top runner for the women’s club team at the National Club Women’s 6K, coming in 21st with a time of 23:12. Kelly Foulke (65th – 24:08), Lindsay Shapiro (132nd – 25:28) and Rachel Lee (180 – 26:17) rounded out the scoring for the women.
Illinois swept both team races, as the Fighting Illini took the women’s race with 85 points. Virginia (87), Penn State (130), North Carolina (139), and Georgetown (205) rounded out the top five overall.
