Nov. 13, 2011

USTFCCCA Regionals Results | NCAA Qualifiers

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Navy senior Jess Palacio and Colgate junior Chris Johnson earned at-large bids to compete at the NCAA Championships that will be held Monday, Nov. 21, on the campus of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Ind.

Both qualifiers won individual titles in the Patriot League this season and they will head to the NCAA Championships a year after a League-record four runners qualified.

Palacio was the League’s top finisher at the Mid-Atlantic Regionals at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Md., placing 12th with a time of 19:07.4 in the 6K race.

Johnson had the top League finish at the NCAA Northeast Regionals at the University at Buffalo in Buffalo, N.Y. He finished in 13th place with a time of 31:38.2 in the 10K.

Johnson is the fourth men’s runner from Colgate to represent the Patriot League and the first since Michael Hanlon did it in 2005. Xavier de Boissezon ran at the 2003 Championships, and Ray Appenheimer was a two-time qualifier for Colgate in 1992-93, and his performance in 1993 when he placed seventh was a League-best.

Palacio is the second female runner from Navy to represent the Patriot League. Amy Watson did it in 2008. American’s Keira Carlstrom, who holds the League record for appearances at the NCAAs (3), has the League's best finish on the women's side. She placed 16th in 2003.

American was the last Patriot League men's team to compete at the NCAA championships (2006), and the Bucknell was the last League institution to compete in the NCAA Women's Championship 11 years ago.

Other notable finishes from Saturday’s regionals
Also competing at the Mid-Atlantic Regionals, Lehigh senior Evans Kosgei, led the men Saturday finishing 13th with a time of 30:52.3. Navy’s James Pearson was 15th (30:57.2) and Cody Rome was 18th (31:04.5).

The Navy men placed fifth with 142 points, and Bucknell (347) and Lehigh (358) finished back-to-back at 10 and 11. The Navy women also led the League, placing seventh with 197 points. Bucknell also finished in the top-15 with 342 points, good for 12th.

Colgate senior Elise DeRoo was the League’s top female finisher in the Northeast Regional, placing 36th with at time of 21:41.4.