Men's Cross Country | 11/21/2015 2:44:00 PM

Complete Results | RPI Athletics on Twitter

WINNECONNE, Wis. - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athlete Ben Fazio, who last year became the school's first National All-America in men's cross country, has repeated the accomplishment by finishing 20th at the NCAA Division III Men's Cross Country Championships. The 8k race was run at the Lake Breeze Golf Club. 

A junior, Fazio (East Greenwich, RI / East Greenwich), who ran as an individual, finished in 24:47.2 - a split of 3:20.6 - despite tripping on the course and suffering an injury that required medical attention following the race. He was only one second from finishing 19th in the nation.

This is the second NCAA Championship appearance for Fazio. As a sophomore, he finished 26th at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship, crossing the finish line in a time of 24:32.5, averaging 4:56.3 per mile. He was only four-tenths of a mile out of the 25th spot and less than a second from 23rd. 

Wisconsin-Platteville junior Ian LaMere won the individual championship with a time of 23:35.4, while Wisconsin-Eau Claire was the team champion (135 points).

Rensselaer's women's team also competed in Wisconsin, finishing ninth in the nation. For the complete story, please click HERE.