Seton Hall University
Muhlenberg Invitational
Eddings, Blackburn Pace XC at Muhlenberg
4/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
April 7, 2014
ALLENTOWN, PA. - For the second consecutive week, the Seton Hall cross country program recorded two event victories as senior Nyala Eddings (Chicago, Ill.) and freshman Desyre Blackburn (Aloha, Ore.) strode to a pair of first-place finishes at the Muhlenberg Invitational on Saturday; pushing the program's total to eight wins in three spring meets.
The winner of both the 800-meter and 1,500-meter races at the Stockton Invitational two weeks ago, Eddings picked up her third victory of the spring, registering a time of 2:15.78 that topped a deep 800m field and led four Seton Hall runners in the top-25. Junior Felicia Mingrone (Shelton, Conn.) collected a 17th-place time of 2:36.14 while freshman Caitlin O'Kane (Morris Plains, N.J.) (2:43.45) and sophomore Maggie Jodon (Orange, Conn.) (2:43.50) finished back-to-back in 24th and 25th respectively.
Blackburn, who bested the 1,500m field at the Monmouth Spring Opener, added a second win in as many outings by turning in a 5K time of 18:50.63 that was over 30 seconds faster than the runner-up mark. Sophomore Amanda Catherall (Farmingdale, N.Y.) contributed a 14th-place effort in the event, crossing in 20:47.04.
In the fall, Eddings and Blackburn combined with junior Mary Migton (Ledgewood, N.J.) to occupy the top-three spots on the team in all nine meets and on Saturday, Migton was again at the forefront of a strong showing for The Hall as the Ledgewood product clocked in at 4:57.28 to earn third-place in a 1,500m event that featured 40 competitors. Freshman Holli Rolle (Nassau, Bahamas) took first place in her heat with a time of 5:13.49 that ranked 11th overall while senior Kristen May (Shrewsbury, Mass.) (5:24.22, 17th) and sophomore Samantha Young (Upper Black Eddy, Pa.) (5:25.80, 20th) rounded out the Pirate contingent in the event.
Eddings, Migton and Rolle later teamed with junior Allyson Guieb (Robbinsville, N.J.) to put together a 4:10.71 effort in the 4x400m relay, placing second in the race. Guieb also continued an impressive run in hurdles, ranking second in her heat and sixth overall by turning in a time of 1:11.77 at the 400m distance.
Sophomore Alex Ryan (Aurora, Colo.) also excelled in the 400m dash, placing atop her heat with a 1:06.51 mark that was 14th-best overall.
On the men's side, freshman Victor Ricci (Narragansett, R.I.) came within one second of adding a third victory for The Hall, leading four Pirates in the top-25 of the 1,500m event with a third-place time of 4:11.04. Sophomore Jacob Bast (St. Louis, Mo.) finished less than .4 seconds outside the top-10, crossing in 4:16.60 while freshman Cameron Quisenberry (Owensboro, Ky.) placed 13th in 4:18.56. Classmate Sean Kip (Union, N.J.) completed the quartet of top-25 finishers, reaching the finish in 4:26.68.
The 1,500m was one of two strong events for the Seton Hall men on Saturday as junior Kevin Walsh (Deltaville, Va.) extended his notable performance in the spring, earning a third-place finish with a 16:03.16 mark in the 5K. Walsh previously placed third in the 10K at Monmouth and posted a 5K victory at Stockton.
Freshman Alex Mallue (Canton, Ohio) recorded a 15th-place showing in the event, crossing in 16:37.73 with the second-best time in his heat while junior John Walsh (Deltaville, Va.) ranked 16th overall with a time of 16:55.03.
The Pirates will continue their spring this Saturday, April 12 at the Rider Invite in Lawrenceville, N.J.
