Complete Meet Results

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – The LIU men's cross country team took part in the 2021 Northeast Conference Cross Country championships Saturday at Stanley Quarter Park. The Sharks finished seventh in the field of ten in the men's 8k race.
 
LIU freshman Elyas Ayyoub was the third runner to finish with a time of 25:59.60, earning him the NEC Most Outstanding Rookie Performer award.
 
"This entire season Elyas has shown he can be competitive at the highest level," head coach Chris Sauer said. "After Mount made a big move early on, Elyas covered it perfectly and put himself in a spot to win it."
 
Junior Jonathan Gonzalez was the next Shark to cross, coming in 27th overall, with a time of 27:35.7. He was just ahead of teammate Bryan Villafuerte, who crossed in 31st, with a time of 27:51.6.
 
Sophomore Brenden Rosario (44th – 28:15.8) freshman Perry Balsamo (47th – 28:29.6), freshman Jesse Wells (57th – 28:58.3) and junior Lucas Fernandez (62nd – 29:13.6) rounded out the scorers for LIU.
 
"We got a lot out of a very young team today," Sauer said. "Seventh is still our best NEC finish in probably a decade, and fourth place is just a few points away. Another year of experience or another athlete stepping up, and it's going to be a team that can have a look at the podium."
 
 
2021 NEC Men's Cross Country Final Results
1. CCSU - 28 points
2. Wagner - 68
3. Merrimack - 97
4. Bryant - 112
5. Mount St. Mary's - 130
6. Saint Francis U - 134
7. LIU - 144
8. Sacred Heart - 223
9. Fairleigh Dickinson - 299
10. St. Francis Brooklyn – 318
 
NEC Outstanding Performer: Eddie Nicholas, CCSU
NEC Freshman of the Year: Elyas Ayyoub, LIU