LAKELAND, Fla. – For the second time in Embry-Riddle men's cross country's NCAA II era, the Eagles had a runner crowned Sunshine State Conference Cross Country Individual Champion as
Brendon Shea crossed the line in first place at the 2023 SSC conference meet at Holloway Park on Saturday. Shea finished just ahead of teammate
Tanner Rosolino as the duo led the Blue and Gold to a second-place overall finish with 45 points.
Florida Southern won the meet with 25 points after placing their top five runners in the No. 3-No. 8 spots. Tampa (51 pts), Palm Beach Atlantic (129 pts) and Nova Southeastern (154 pts) rounded out the top five teams.
Embry-Riddle - 45 points [1-2-9-16-17 (22) (23)]
The Eagles ran a total time of 2:06.45, which is their second-best team time this season. Embry-Riddle placed three runners in the top 10 and five in the top 20 to finish as one of the league's top two teams for the sixth time in as many seasons.
The Eagles
Shea became just the second Eagle to win an SSC individual title on Saturday. The junior ran his second fastest 8K race of the season, breaking the tape in 24:49.7. Rosolino was close behind in 24:55.9 giving the Eagles their first one-two finish since 2018.
Andrew Stowe was next across for the Eagles, placing ninth overall in 25:22.0.
Micah Blair (16th, 25:46.8) and Nick Scarangelli (17th, 25:50.8) rounded out the Eagles' top five.
Shea, Rosolino and Stowe were all named to the All-Championship team. For Shea, it was his third All-Championship Team honor, while Rosolino and Stowe each earned the accolade for the second time in their respective careers. Scarangelli was tabbed as the Men's Cross Country Championship Top Freshman.
• Brandon Santangello -25:59.0 (22nd)
•
Tayan Benson – 26:00.6 (23rd)
•
Ethan Stout – 26:16.4 (29th)
•
Tristan McWilliam – 26:17.8 (30th)
• Jacob Fritz – 26:34.4 (37th)
• Ryan Malarchick – 27:05.9 (51st)
•
Simon Cole – 27:46.3 (61st)
•
Jacob D'Aleo – 27:58.9 (66th)
•
Mike Klein – 28:07.4 (69th)
•
Charles Hruda – 31:57.7 (98th)
Next Up
The Eagles will continue in the postseason at the NCAA II South Region Championship on Saturday, Nov. 4. The regional championship will be held at the Montevallo Cross Country Course in Montevallo, Alabama. The top three finishers at the regional meet will automatically qualify for the NCAA II National Championship race in Joplin, Missouri on Nov. 18.
The 2023 Embry-Riddle men's cross country season is presented by Radiology Associates.
