NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – The LIU cross country program competed in the NEC Championship at CCSU on Friday morning, with the women's team finishing in fifth place.

The championship began with the women's 5K race, where sophomore Hasnae Goulamzi continued her impressive season, finishing second with a time of 17:22.90, earning All-NEC honors. Josephine Critchley followed, recording a season best of 19:32.60. Ally Carillo placed 52nd with a time of 20:36.10, while Amira Hussein finished in 23:26.80 and Nina Izaguirrie clocked in at 24:07.60. This fifth-place finish marked an improvement from last season's seventh-place result and tied for the Sharks' third-highest finish since joining the NEC.

The men's 8K race began at noon, with Robby Levy being the first LIU runner to finish, posting a time of 27:08.10. Freshman Levy capped off a stellar season with this performance. Perry Balsamo set a personal record at 27:39.20, finishing in 27th place. Other top finishers included Bryan Villafuerte (28:35.70), John Schwab, who also recorded a personal best (28:48.70), Ryan Bailor (28:53.30), and Darin Cofield, who finished with a PR of 29:19.60. Tyrese Bowes ran a personal best of 30:59.70, while Cole Stellman finished at 37:37.40. The men also finished in fifth place, marking their second-highest finish since joining the conference.

The Sharks will next travel to the Hopkinton State Fair Grounds for the 2024 NCAA Division I Cross Country Northeast Regional, hosted by Boston College and UMass-Lowell in Hopkinton, New Hampshire.