Galligan and Ryan Among Top Finishers At NCAA Mideast Regional; Heading Back To National Championships
CARLISLE, Pa. – Sophomore Kristen Galligan (Frederick, Md./Governor Thomas Johnson) earned a runner-up finish, while senior Scott Ryan (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville East) placed 13th to lead Washington & Jefferson College Saturday at the 2012 NCAA Division III Mideast Cross Country Regional at Big Spring High School. Dickinson College was the host of the meet.
The Presidents' standout duo earned invitations to the NCAA Division III Championship for the second-straight year. Last year, they became the first runners in school history to earn spots in the national meet. The 2012 national championship will be competed next Saturday in Terre Haute, Ind.
""I am very proud of all the W&J runners today, especially Kristen and Scott," said Head Coach Shawn Marek. "Kristen's runner-up finish is the highest ever in W&J history. It is a great achievement in her outstanding sophomore season, and I expect her to be an All-American this weekend. Scott gutted out a 13th place finish while being very sick, and achieved a national berth to complete his senior season. We are all looking forward to some great racing at national championships!"
Galligan's second-place finish in the 346-runner field came in a 6K time of 21:40.3. She was only 5.6 seconds behind regional champion, freshman Hannah Oneda of Johns Hopkins (21:34.7). Galligan, the Presidents' Athletic Conference champion, claimed 13th place in the regional meet last year.
The 2012 PAC men's champion, Ryan matched his 13th place finish from last year's Mideast Regional with an 8K time of 25:49.3. Allegheny junior Bobby Over won the title at 25:09.6 in the 343-runner field.
As a team, the W&J men took 27th place of 49 squads, while the women's team earned 32nd place. Johns Hopkins won the women's team championship, while Haverford captured the men's title.
The men's second-best finish came from senior Benjamin Kopchick (Clarksburg, Pa./Saltsburg), who posted a time of 28:35.1 and placed 163rd in his final collegiate race. Sophomore Corey Young (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) turned in a time of 28:55.3 to finish 185th.
Freshman Keri Reeves (Calimesa, Calif./Yucaipa) was the second-best women's finisher in 175th place (26:18.8), while classmate Kaleigh Gallagher (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois) placed 227th (27:19.4).
