Nov. 22, 2010

Link to Individual Results | Link to Team Results

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Navy senior Andrew Hanko finished 119th out of 246 runners on Monday at the NCAA Cross Country Championship in Terre Haute, Ind. Hanko covered the 10k course in 31:21.1 as he was the first individual from Navy to compete in the NCAA Championship since Aaron Nichols finished 182nd in 1999.

"I was never really able to get in a rhythm from the start," said Hanko. "I'm pretty disappointed. I put myself in a good position early and couldn't really hang on. It was just tough to get in a rhythm."

Hanko's finish was eighth best out of runners from schools in the NCAA's Mid-Atlantic region that competed in Monday's event. He was one of just two individuals from the Patriot League to compete in the meet.

"He ran tough," said Navy head coach Al Cantello. "In a race like this where there are so many people, it's like playing an accordion - you can never get any rhythm."

Liberty's Samuel Chelenga won the individual title with a time of 29:22.2, while Oklahoma State, which had three runners place in the top 10, claimed the team title.

"It was definitely a one-of-a-kind experience," said Hanko. "It was a great experience overall, and I wish the whole team could have been here running."

Monday's meet was the final cross country event of Hanko's brilliant career at the Naval Academy. This season he became the first Navy runner to win consecutive conference titles when he posted the third-fastest time (24:22) in the history of the Patriot League Championship. He also became the first three-time, First-Team All-Patriot League honoree in Navy history.

The Montville, N.J., native's 10 career Patriot League Runner of the Week awards are the most by any runner in conference history.