Villanova cross country in national finals
Men are ranked fifth, highest they have been since 1998
VILLANOVA'S men's cross country team won the NCAA championship four times in a 5-year span starting in 1966. But the Wildcats haven't finished in the top 10 since 2001, and haven't made it onto the awards podium (top four) in a little over 2 decades.
But tomorrow afternoon in Terre Haute, Ind., they'll be running in the finals as the nation's fifth-ranked team, the highest they've been since 1998. Under former Wildcats great Marcus O'Sullivan, they're one of eight teams in the field of 31 that have qualified for this meet in each of the last eight seasons.
The Wildcats have won their last three competitions, including the Big East final and Mid-Atlantic Regional (for the eighth time and second in a row). O'Sullivan also received his sixth Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year award.
Their lineup is headlined by two Australians: sophomore Patrick Tiernan and senior Sam McEntee. They placed ninth and 27th last year, respectively. McEntee is running for the fourth straight year. Four others earned all-Mid Atlantic honors as well: junior Rob Denault, from Ontario; junior Jordy Williamsz, another Australian; senior Brian Basili from New Jersey; and sophomore Harry Warnick, a Connecticut native. Sophomore Kevin Corbusier, from Maryland, rounds out the squad.