By Olivia Trasser
Correspondent
The College’s men’s and women’s cross-country teams will enter the NCAA Metro Regional Championship, on Saturday, Nov. 16, with high hopes and determination. The teams are coming off strong runner-up finishes at the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship, which they hosted on their home course at Green Lane.
Both teams, while displeased with their NJAC outcome, are motivated to secure a national spot at this weekend's regional meet.
On the men's side, sophomore standout Brandon Chen led the Lions at the NJAC championship, finishing third individually with a time of 25:22.5. On the 8k course, he placed behind Rowan’s Joshua Cason and Stockton’s Erik Ackerman.
This performance reinforced Chen’s status as one of the NJAC’s top athletes, following an already distinguished career at The College.
Since joining the team in 2023, Chen has received numerous accolades, including NJAC Rookie of the Year, All-Metro Region honors and several NJAC Runner of the Week titles. Reflecting on his achievements, Chen attributed his success to the support and camaraderie of his teammates, which he believes has been pivotal in his growth as an athlete.
“The team was disappointed with the outcome of last week, but we’re ready to go for Saturday,” Chen said. “We’re the underdogs going into this race, but we’re confident that we can cause a major upset and hopefully qualify for nationals.”
Chen noted that his commitment to the team has been one of the main reasons for his development and recent success. For Chen, it’s not just about the individual accolades but also about competing with and for his teammates.
“Individually, some of the biggest factors that I attribute to my growth in running is my commitment to the team,” said Chen. “All the guys are super close, and it makes me want to try harder to score well for the team. We’re all going to be running for our one goal to qualify, and we will all perform better because of it.”
The College’s women’s team also delivered an impressive performance at the NJAC Championship, led by Cassidy Quinn, who finished third individually with a career-best time of 22:23.4 on the 6k course.
Quinn was the only non-Rowan runner to break into the top five, and her finish helped the women’s team secure a runner-up position. Quinn took full advantage of racing on the Lions' home course, pushing herself to new heights and inspiring her teammates along the way.
With two tightly bonded teams and an underdog mentality heading into the race, The College’s teams are ready for a standout performance this weekend.
For them, the regional meet represents an opportunity not only to qualify for nationals but also to showcase the depth of talent and determination within the squad.
Both teams will head to Galloway, NJ, home of the Stockton Ospreys, with their focus now on the NCAA Metro Regional Championship. On Nov. 16, the men and women hope to have a strong performance that could secure them a coveted spot at nationals.
