CLARK, NJ - As he has all year, sophomore men's cross country
Derick Blair continued to break records Saturday at the Landmark Championships. Using the Oak Ridge Park 8K course as his canvas, Blair brushed his way to becoming the fifth Landmark individual champion in team history and first since 2011 with a personal-best time of 24:28.85, the second fastest in conference history. He beat out Moravian's top three runners by just over four seconds as the Greyhounds took spots two through four en route to the team conference title.
Following Blair for Susquehanna were two All-Landmark Honorable Mention finishers in
Hunter Valentino, finishing 15th with a PR of 25:50.47, and junior
Evander Lackman, who took All-Landmark for the third straight with an Honorable-Mention finish in 19th at 26:13.15. Overall the River Hawks finished fourth with 89 points, beating out their Landmark Pre-Championship Poll placement of fifth.
RIVER HAWKS ON THE COURSE
- 1. Derick Blair, 24:28.85 (Program Record) - Became fifth Landmark Conference individual champion in Susquehanna history and first since 2011 (2011 - Ian Quinlan, 2009 - Paul Thistle, 2008 - Paul Thistle, 2007 - Paul Thistle). Had a time of 2:45.51 at the 1K mark and 15:50.09 at the 5K checkpoint, never relinquishing the lead.
- 15. Hunter Valentino, 25:50.47 (Personal Best) - First career All-Landmark finish as Honorable Mention
- 19. Evander Lackman, 26:13.15 - Third career All-Landmark, second as Honorable Mention. Finished Second Team as a first-year in 2023 with a time of 27:21.04. Was Honorable Mention in 2024 with a time of 25:56.88.
- 26. Thomas McGann, 26:29.24 (Personal Best)
- 38. Andrew Hilke, 27:03.58 (Personal Best)
- 48. Brady Ryder, 27:26.29 (Personal Best)
- 63. Owen Trump, 28:26.94
- 77. Samuel Borge, 29:00.30
- 83. James Dell, 29:36.17 (Personal Best)
- 86. Joseph LaBarbera, 30:13.73
- 87. Ethan Harnish, 30:18.49 (Personal Best)
- 90. Brady Kearns, 30:48.10 (Personal Best)
- 92. Jack Compton, 30:59.63 (Season Best)
- 96. Joshua Malone, 31:17.96
UP NEXT FOR THE RIVER HAWKS
- Susquehanna men's cross country will await official word on competing at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships on Saturday, Nov. 15, hosted by Dickinson College from Big Spring High School in Newville, Pa.
