Meet Preview: Men's and Women's Cross Country Aim for Strong Showings in Competitive Metro Region

Posted: Nov 15, 2024

2024 NCAA Division III Cross Country Metro Regional Championships

Saturday, November 16th | 11 a.m. & 12 p.m.

Stockton University | Galloway, N.J. | North Athletic Complex

GALLOWAY, N.J. - The Haverford College men's and women's cross country teams will toe the start line at the 2024 NCAA Division III Metro Regional Championships on Saturday at Stockton University in Galloway, N.J. The women's race is slated for 11 a.m. while the men's race will follow approximately at noon.

PURSUIT FOR THE CROWN - WOMEN
Haverford enters the Regional meet ranked seventh in the competitive Metro Region. While Rowan, Swarthmore, and TCNJ occupy the top three spots, Moravian, Stockton, and Widener rank ahead of the Fords in the final regional standings. However, Haverford is positioned above Ramapo, Stevens, and Montclair State. The Fords aim to improve upon their 11th-place finish from last season, with Alice Sappenfield earning All-Metro Region honors in 2023. As one of the more competitive regions in the nation, the Metro Region has seen a different champion each of its three years of existence, highlighting the Fords' potential to mark a strong showing this year.

PURSUIT FOR THE CROWN - MEN
The Men's team enters the race with 30 consecutive national appearances, aiming to extend that streak to 31. Haverford is the sole champion of the newly established Metro Region, which debuted in the 2021 season. This year, the Fords rank third in the Metro , and face tough competition from two foes in particular, including No. 29 Moravian, which impressed with an 11th-place finish at the Paul Short Run and a Landmark Championship. Haverford will also contend with a rising Rowan squad, which claimed the NJAC Championship and defeated the Fords head-to-head at the Inter-Regional Border Battle on Rowan's home course.

DECLARED ENTRANTS
Women's - Grace Chen, Poppy Chrisman, Anastasia Jaycobs, Dominique La Grenade, Krysta Nichols, Alice Sappenfield, Savannah Shaw, Julianna Watson

Men's - Owen Bluman, Evan Daniels, Luke de Valpine, Reza Eshghi, Seamus Fraser, Micah Lachman, Peter LaRochelle, Jakob Maiwald, Rowan Shigeno, Reed Solomon

WHAT'S AT STAKE?
Each team at the NCAA Regionals is limited to a maximum of seven participants. A total of 10 teams in each gender (each regional champion) will automatically qualify for the NCAA National Championships on November 23 in Terre Haute, Indiana on the Lavern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course at Indiana State University. There will also be 22 at-large bids handed out by the NCAA committee. Those selections will be announced on Sunday, November 16 in a release on NCAA.com.

The top-seven runners not from a qualifying team will also earn an automatic berth to the NCAA championship, with those bids also finalized and announced in the NCAA selection release on Sunday. Runners who place in the top 35 will earn All-Region designation from the USTFCCCA. The USTFCCCA national office will officially announce the list of honorees on Monday, November 18.

LAST TIME OUT - WOMEN
The women's team finished fifth at the Centennial Conference Championships with 153 points. Grace Chen led the way, placing 31st in 24:01.1, followed by Anastasia Jaycobs (32nd, 24:03.0) and Alice Sappenfield (41st, 24:42.9). Savannah Shaw finished 44th (24:48.1). Seniors Julianna Watson (46th, 24:49.7), Dominique La Grenade (48th, 24:53.6), and Krysta Nichols (49th, 24:54.8) rounded out the top 50. Poppy Crisman placed 58th (25:23.0), with Dalia Smid (71st, 26:00.4) and Bianca Ortiz (72nd, 26:04.8). Other finishers included Sophia Furman (94th), Maia Poremba (97th), Judy Xie (107th), Katie Strutton (108th), and Claire Parsons (109th).

LAST TIME OUT - MEN
Led by senior Peter LaRochelle's runner-up finish, Haverford placed second at the Centennial Conference Championships with 66 points, trailing No. 13 Johns Hopkins (19 points) but finishing ahead of Dickinson (70 points). LaRochelle clocked 25:06.7 on the 8K course, earning his second straight individual runner-up finish and a first-team All-Centennial honor. Senior Reza Eshghi followed in 25:48.2, securing eighth place and a second-team All-Centennial nod. Senior Seamus Fraser also earned second-team honors with his 12th-place finish in 26:05.5. Junior Micah Lachman (24th, 26:33.4) and sophomore Luke de Valpine (29th, 26:43.8) completed the Fords' scoring five. Senior Evan Daniels placed 39th in 27:04.5, while junior Jakob Maiwald finished 43rd in 27:09.9. Additional contributions came from Reed Solomon (46th, 27:17.3), Rowan Shigeno (48th, 27:21.2), and Owen Bluman (52nd, 27:28.2). Rookie Reef Kirchner debuted at 69th with a time of 28:27.3. Sophomores Gopal Patel (71st, 28:31.5) and Deven Abrams (85th, 29:24.6) followed, while senior Kieran McDonnell rounded out Haverford's squad in 100th, clocking 30:56.0.

HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
To keep up to the minute with all the Metro Region Championship action, please head to Metro Region Tournament Central!