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Cross Country Spotlight:
Men's Harriers Close Out Regular Season with Eighth Place Finish

Sunday, October 15, 2006

By Bob Heller
USIP Sports Information Director

The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia men's cross country team closed out the 2006 regular season yesterday afternoon with an eighth place finish at the Cabrini Invitational at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia.

The Devils finished with 163 points, five behind seventh place Wesley College and 11 behind sixth place Catholic University. Rutgers-Camden took the team title with 64 points.

The Devils were one of three schools to place two runners amongst the top ten overall finishers. Nick Willey (So., Shenendehowa HS/Clifton Park, N.Y.) finished fifth overall with a time of 27:59.22 while Matt Willard (Fr., Cardinal O'Hara HS/Broomall, Pa.) was seventh overall with a time of 28:12.45.

USP's next finisher came in at 49th place overall. Nick Barkley (Fr., Mansfield HS/Mansfield, Tex.) completed the 8,000-meter course in 32:18.85. Barkley was followed by Mark Cifelli (So., Watchung Hills Regional HS/Gillette, N.J.) in 58th place with a time of 33:38.27.

Nick Barger (So., Our Lady of Lourdes HS/Stormville, N.Y.) followed in 65th place overall with a time of 34:16.99, his best effort of the season. Ryan Pell (Sr., West York HS/York, Pa.) was 66th overall finishing in 34:20.02. George Strock (Sr., Blue Mountain HS/ Schuylkill Haven, Pa.) rounded out the Devils top seven finishers with a time of 34:59.97.

Rounding out the Devils' finishers were Rich DiGiacomo (Jr., St. John Neumann HS/Philadelphia, Pa.), Sean Hatfield (So., J.W. Mitchell/New Port Richey, Fla.) and Eddy Garcia (So., Hun School of Princeton/ Bordentown, N.J.). DiGiacomo finished in 35:07.58 while Hatfield Crossed the line in 37:45.88. Garcia finished in 39:09.32

Yesterday's meet concluded the regular season for USP. The Devils will compete in the CACC Cross Country Championships next Saturday at Carousel Park in Wilmington, Delaware. The men's race will start at 11:30 a.m., while the women run at 10:30 a.m.