Masai makes history winning NCAA Cross Country Regionals

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Senior Alex Masai crossed the finish line with a smile on his face and arms in the air on Friday, Nov. 15, as he won the NCAA Division I Men’s Cross-Country Northeast Regional Championship in Buffalo, New York. The win marks the first regional title for any Hofstra runner in program history.

Masai’s 10K time of 28:42.3 breaks the 14-year-old school record of 31:05 set by Rudy Martinez in 2005. It also marks an almost six-minute personal record for Masai, who ran a 10K time of 34:28.1 at last year’s regionals.

“My strategy [going into the race] was just to do well. To qualify for nationals. [I was] just trying to do my best and luckily I got a win,” Masai said.

The senior will now head to Terre Haute, Indiana to race among the nation’s best at the NCAA Division I Men’s Cross-Country Championship on Saturday, Nov. 23.

Masai has gone undefeated this season, winning all five of his races leading up to nationals, and holds seven titles in eight races during his time with the Pride, including two Colonial Athletic Association championships.

Following behind Masai in Buffalo was freshman Isa Suleiman, who placed 14th with a time of 29:07.7, earning him All-Region Honors. Junior Tosin Ibironke crossed the line in 33:18.7 to finish 226th, while freshman Ben Haber and senior Dante Perez rounded out the Pride in 232nd and 258th with respective times of 33:35.4 and 35:34.7.

The team placed 26th with 701 points as Harvard University claimed the team title with 59 points, finishing five runners in the top 29. Syracuse University followed in second with 86 points and Iona College earned third with 96 points. 

For the Hofstra women, a new 6K school record earned freshman Jordyn McDonnell the Pride’s top finish. Her time of 21:08.6 breaks Mary Sullivan’s 2005 record of 21:11.

Sophomore Sophia Masciarelli was the next runner to finish for the Pride, earning 157th in 22:10.4. Freshmen Leah Gath and Kayla Stadeker came in next, with Gath running a season record of 22:57 to earn 207th and Stadeker placing 261st in 25:05.1. Junior Megan Boese crossed the line in 26:08.4 to place 265th.

The Pride finished 34th overall with 939 points as Harvard also claimed the women’s team title with 92 points, placing their five runners in the top 26. Cornell University and Boston College placed second and third with 126 and 133 points respectively as State University at Albany runner Hannah Reinhardt earned the individual gold in 19:38.4.

Due to weather conditions and intense snowfall, the races were moved from the Audubon Golf Course to a road race hosted by the University of Buffalo. The announcement was made two days prior to the race.

After the race and Masai’s victory, the regional champion saw tremendous support from the community. 

“I know I have a lot of fans now and I know they want me to do well – and I’m ready to do it,” Masai said.

While some might feel pressure to perform with the community now watching, Masai isn’t bothered. 

“I know how to tackle the pressure. It’s about being myself, being the best I can and making improvements as always,” he said.

As his teammates remain in Hempstead and begin their training for indoor track season, the Kenyan runner will head to Indiana to race at nationals alone.

“I know they’ll be supporting me wherever they’ll be,” Masai said.

The 2019 NCAA Division I Cross Country National Championship will take place on Saturday, Nov. 23. The women race at 11:15 a.m. followed by the men at 12:15 p.m.

Image courtesy of Hofstra Athletics