Nov. 1, 2003
EDISON, N.J. - Late Friday evening, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) announced the 2003 New York State Lottery/MAAC Men's and Women's Cross Country All-Academic Teams. The MAAC hosted the 2003 MAAC Cross Country Championships at Van Cortlandt Park, in the Bronx, N.Y., on Friday afternoon.
There were a total of 33 runners making up the men's team, while 39 comprised the women's team. Eight (five men, three women) Fairfield University men's and women's runners were selected to the teams.
To be eligible for the MAAC All-Academic Teams, a student-athlete must complete two semesters at their institution, be a significant starter or reserve and hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a 4.0 scale. On the men's side Marist led all schools with 10 members named to the team. Iona had six, followed by Fairfield with five, and Manhattan and Siena each had four.
On the women's team, Iona and Siena each had six student-athletes named to the team. Marist had five, Canisius and Manhattan each had four, while Fairfield, Niagara, and Rider each had three.
Leading the Fairfield men, were Matt Borland and Jeff Illustrato, who make their third appearance on the team. Borland, who is a Finance major, finished the MAAC Championships third on the team with a 28:31.5. Illustrato, who is also a Finance major, finished the MAAC Championships with a 31:39.3.
Bryan Mahoney makes his season appearance on the team, and is an English major. Mahoney was the top runner for the Stags at the MAAC Championships with a 27:26.3. Devin Hagen and Justin Rindos each make their first appearance on the team. Hagen is majoring in American Studies, and finished the MAAC Championships with a 30:55.5. Rindos, a Politics major was second on the team at the MAACs finished with a 27:54.7 over the 8,000-meter course.
The Fairfield women had three first-time members, led by Liz Avery marketing major. Colleen Brasser a corporative engineering major and Cara Muzik who is undecided. Brasser finished the MAAC Championships with a 24:42.1, and Muzik posted a 25:39.3 at the MAAC Championships.
