Both Siena Cross Country squads continued recent success at the MAAC Cross Country Championships during the 40^th annual running of the event Friday at the Seaview Golf Club in Galloway, New Jersey. The women's team placed second out of the 10-team competition field in the 6k, setting a program record for their best finish, while the men placed fourth in the 8k race.

The event marked the first MAAC Championship held in a year and the first time ever that the Cross Country postseason event was held on a golf course and on this particular course. The women's squad logged 58 points to Iona's 36, with the Gaels taking home the women's title for the fifth straight year. Quinnipiac (70) placed third on the women's side, while Monmouth (83) took fourth. The Siena women have now logged a top three finish in each of the last three seasons, placing third at the event in both 2018 & 2019.

The Saints also saw a program record four runners named to the All-MAAC team on the women's side, which denotes a top-15 individual finish. Sophomore Delia McDade Clay (22:17.46)  led the way with an eighth-place individual finish, while junior Olivia Lomascolo (22:22.88) took home All-MAAC honors for the second straight year with a ninth-place finish. Seniors Regina Rosati (22:28.73) and Carissa Kahn (22:32.61) finished 11^th and 12^th, respectively, to record the first All-MAAC finishes of their careers. Due to her eligibility as a freshman for the cross country season, McDade Clay was also named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team.

"I am so proud of our women's program and how they performed today and every day over this last year," Head Coach John Kenworthy said. "We have an amazing, resilient group of tough women who have had this day in their sights for a long time. Two weeks ago, we were beaten by Quinnipiac and Monmouth, but our women stuck to the plan, bought in to the last two weeks of work, and made it happen on the course today. This is a really special group and I'm already excited for next October."

Siena placed fourth on the men's end with 105 total points, marking the sixth straight year that they have landed in the top-5. The Gaels also took the men's championship, registering the first seven finishers of the race and marking their 30^th straight MAAC Men's Cross Country Title. Fresh off a first-place individual finish two weeks ago, sophomore Brandon Olden (24:48.62) placed eighth as the first finisher from the rest of the field and took home his first All-MAAC honors. Junior Owen Walker (25:33.69) finished 16^th overall as the second Siena runner to cross the line, while senior Aidan Canavan (25:48.10) placed 23^rd overall. Freshman Killian McNamee (26:08.99) placed 31^st to take home MAAC All-Rookie Team honors on the men's side.

"The men's result today is really a mixed bag," Kenworthy added. "Glass half full, we've got Brandon Olden waiting on an NCAA invitation, we had two freshmen step up and finish in our top-5, Owen Walker was in the hunt down the home stretch for an All-MAAC finish, and Killian McNamee is on the MAAC All-Rookie Team. On the other side, we finished fourth as a team and our goals are higher than that. Monmouth and Rider ran great races and we will get back to work to ensure that we're ready to climb back up the MAAC next fall. In the nearer term, I'm excited for Selection Sunday, and hope to be in Stillwater on March 15^th!"

Siena will now turn its attention to the NCAA Division I Men's & Women's Cross Country Championships Selection Show to find out if any of its athlete's seasons will be continued. The show is set for Sunday, March 7 at 1 PM and will air on NCAA.com. Teams will be selected to the at-Large field, with the individual runners part of a team that was not selected as an at-large contender also having a shot at being selected.