Men's Cross Country | 11/16/2018 1:05:00 PM

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WINNECONNE, Wis. - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is well represented at the 2018 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships as both the men's and women's teams qualified and will compete on Saturday. The races to determine the Division III national champions are being run at Lake Breeze Golf Club with the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh serving as the host.

RPI's men qualified for the third consecutive year based on its first place finish at the NCAA Atlantic Regional. The Engineers, who are No. 3 in the nation according to the latest USTFCCCA Coaches' Poll, finished with 26 points, which was 33 points in front of runner-up and No. 9-ranked SUNY Geneseo.

In addition to winning Regionals, RPI has also won the Purple Valley Classic, Saratoga Invitational and Liberty League Championship. It had five runners in the top 10 at the conference meet, including individual winner Sean O'Connor (Stamford, NY / South Kortright Central) with Grant O'Connor (West Hartford, CT / Hall) finishing second. Last weekend, RPI saw its five scorers finish in the top 9 with Grant O'Connor winning - for the second straight season and later being named the Atlantic Region Athlete of the Year - and Sean O'Connor placing fourth. All seven of the team's competitors earned All-Region, led by Grant O'Connor's 26:00.8.

Rensselaer, which has a roster of 31, has not finished below fourth in any meet this season. Sean O'Connor has won four meets, while Grant has one victory. Joining the duo in Wisconsin for what is the fourth overall appearance for the program, are sophomore Jacob Davis (Woodbine, NJ / Ocean City), junior Joey Domanico (Haddon Township, NJ / Haddon Township), junior Noah Falasco (King of Prussia, PA / Upper Merion Area), sophomore Henry Jaques (Freeport, ME / Freeport), junior Jake Kloman (Sterling, VA / Potomac Falls) and junior Danny Napora (Poughkeepsie, NY / Roy C. Ketcham).

RPI, which is coached by John Lynch, set the school record with a 13th-place finish in 2016, followed by 14th last season. The only other team to qualify for the Championship Meet was in 1996 when the Engineers ran 17th. (The 1975 team competed, but qualification was not necessary; RPI finished 33rd.) 

Lynch also coaches the women's team, which earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Championship with a second place finish at the Atlantic Regional (the top 2 teams are automatically qualified). The Engineers, who are No. 14 nationally, compiled 89 points and trailed only No. 3 Geneseo, which had 28 points.

Junior Andrea Squeri (Downingtown, PA / Downingtown STEM Academy) led the team with an eighth place finish (22:49.6) with Wisconsin native Autumn Grim (Cross Plains, WI / Middleton), finishing the 6K race less than a second behind, crossing in in 22:50.8. They both earned All-Region, along with junior Maggie Bond (Watkins Glen, NY / Watkins Glen), sophomore Isabel Caplazi (Happy Valley, OR / Clackamas), junior Jessica Squeri (Downingtown, PA / Downingtown STEM Academy) and senior Maddie Sturm (Bristol, CT / St. Paul Catholic). 

The six of them are joined at the NCAA Championship Meet by freshman Grace Brolly (Geneva, IL / Geneva Community) and sophomore Laura Klang (West Chester, PA / Bayard Rustin).

In eight meets since early September, the Engineers have five top-3 finishes. They defeated The College of Saint Rose, placed third at the Yellowjacket Invitational and the Saratoga Invitational and were runner-ups at the Liberty League Championship a week ahead of the Regional Championship Meet.

Saturday is the fourth straight appearance and fifth overall for the women. Rensselaer was 29th in 2009, a school-record ninth in 2015, 18th in 2016 and 10th last season.