Fazio and Becker claim top honors in Liberty League Men's Cross Country
2016 Liberty League Men's Cross Country Awards
RUNNER OF THE YEAR: Ben Fazio, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Sr., East Greenwich, R.I.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute senior Ben Fazio was selected as the Liberty League Runner of the Year. Fazio had a strong season for the Engineers, capturing the Liberty League individual title in 25:22.5, good for a four-second victory over sophomore teammate Grant O'Connor. Fazio was also the league's top finisher at the NCAA Atlantic Regional, placing second in a field of 303 runners. He was 70th of 278 at the NCAA Championship, helping RPI to a 13th-place team finish. He also won the Saratoga Invitational during the regular season and also had two third-place finishes (Siena and Williams), one fourth (Rowan) and one fifth (Vassar). Fazio was a four-time selection as Liberty League Performer of the Week.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Adin Becker, Vassar College, FY, Portland, Ore.
Vassar College first-year runner Adin Becker was chosen as the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. A five-time selection as Liberty League rookie of the week, Becker was the only first-year runner to earn All-Liberty League honors by placing in the top 14 at the Liberty League championship. His 13th-place finish (26:17.3) led all rookies. One of the top first-year runners in the region, Becker was also the top freshman finisher at the NCAA Atlantic Regional as he placed 49th in the field of 303 with a season-best time of 25:38.2. He finished among Vassar's top three in all six races in which he competed.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – John Lynch, Head Coach
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute head coach John Lynch and his staff earned Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year honors in men's cross country. Lynch guided his team to the Liberty League championship, breaking a string of 21 straight league titles captured by St. Lawrence. The Engineers had four of the top five finishers and seven of the top 12 in compiling 22 team points - 40 points ahead of the second-place team. RPI also placed second of 44 teams at the NCAA Atlantic Regional, which earned the Engineers an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Championship. At the national championship meet, RPI placed 13th out of 32 teams with sophomore Grant O'Connor earning All-America honors while placing 25th individually. Lynch is assisted by Kailyn Balzano and Nick Marcantonio.
FIRST TEAM ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE:
Thomas Caulfield, Sr., St. Lawrence
Garrett Davis, Sr., RPI
Benjamin Fazio, Sr., RPI
Grant O’Connor, So., RPI
Sean O'Connor, So., RPI
Jonathan Pelzar, Sr., RIT
Michael Scarlett, Jr., Vassar
SECOND TEAM ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE:
Sidi Abdoulaye, So., St. Lawrence
James Bailey, Jr., RIT
Adin Becker, FY, Vassar
Matthew Cicciu, Sr., RPI
Brian Crowley, Sr., RPI
Benjamin Fishbein, Sr., St. Lawrence
Matthew Stewart, Jr., RPI
* All-Liberty League based on place finish at Liberty League Championship