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Riverdale, N.Y. — After placing in the top five in both races at the America East Championships Saturday, Nov. 1, the Stony Brook men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete in the NCAA Northeast Regional at Van Cortlandt Park Friday. The women’s 6k will begin at noon with the men’s 10k to follow at 1 p.m. 

The top two men's and women's teams from each of the nine regions will receive an automatic qualifier into the championship meet. A Division I subcommittee will select 13 additional programs for an at-large bid.

The first four student-athletes not on a qualifying team will automatically clinch a berth into the championship meet providing they finish in the top 25. The committee will select two at-large individuals from the top 25 by identifying the highest non-qualifying individual finishes at the regional meets.

“The goals for both teams at the regional championships are quite different,” Stony Brook cross country head coach Andy Ronan said. “For the women, it is to regain a spot in the top 10 after missing out on one last year. I still feel this team has not produced its best race as a group this season. I believe they have a quality performance remaining in them and will encourage them to pull it out of themselves on Friday.”

The women have been regionally ranked in the USTFCCCA Northeast Poll all season — currently sitting at No. 13 — and are coming off their 13th consecutive top-three finish at the America East Championships. Led by junior Christina Melian, who placed second in a 5k time of 17:21.77, the Seawolves secured the runner-up trophy for the second consecutive season. Junior Tara Peck joined Melian on the all-conference team by placing ninth in the 86-runner field in 18:10.03. 

“Christina has a good shot at an NCAA individual qualifying spot,” Ronan said. “She is in a group of about 10 women who will be fighting for one of the four places that advance to the championships. She is a smart, tough racer, so I have a good feeling about her chances.”

The Seawolves women have made three team appearances in the NCAA Championship (2007, ’08 and 2010). Jenny Payne received an at-large bid in 2002, and Hayley Green earned one in 2011. 

Stony Brook placed fifth in the men’s 8k at the America East Championship, marking the program’s eighth top-five finish in the last nine years. Senior Eric Speakman tallied a time of 24:31.23 and won his second individual title in three years, becoming the first Seawolf to win multiple individual cross country championships. Freshman Michael Watts clocked in at 25:38.21 and came in 17th out of 83 runners in his conference championship debut.

“The story is different for the men’s team,” Ronan said. “The injury bug that has bit all season has struck again. Our top runner, Eric Speakman, is out with an knee problem. It is unfortunate for him as this is his last cross country season, and he had a strong chance of making it to the national meet. The team is young, but we they have to learn how to compete, not just run, at these events. Friday is going to be all about that for them.”

The full championship field will be announced Monday, Nov. 17 with the NCAA Championships scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 22 at noon in Terre Haute, Ind.