Cherokee graduate Justin Kelly, a senior at Rowan, finished first among 97 runners Saturday in the 26th annual Salisbury (Md.) University Fall Classic over 8,000 meters at WinterPlace Park and Equestrian Center just outside Salisbury.
Kelly ran 25:16 and won by 25 meters over Logan Horst of Messiah College in Grantham, Pa., who ran 25:21. It was Kelly’s second straight win in the Salisbury Fall Classic. He only raced twice last year after transferring from Stony Brook (N.Y.) before missing the rest of the season with an illness.
Kelly won the 3,000 at the NJAC indoor meet last February and was second in the 5,000 at the outdoor meet in May.
Rowan, ranked 3rd in the NCAA Division 3 Metro Region by the USTFCCCA (behind Haverford and The College of New Jersey), placed second to Navy by just seven points, 46-53.
The Profs’ No. 2 runner was senior Noah Cziryak from Triton, who placed 11th in 26:09, and their No. 5 runner was Giancarlo Vega, a sophomore from Timber Creek, who ran 15th in 26:21.
Rider transfer Ben Woodard from Highland was Rowan’s 7th runner in his Profs debut, taking 18th in 26:29.
Rowan packed its top five within 65 seconds, with No. 2 through 5 packing in 12 seconds.
In the 6K women’s race, sophomore Anne Sasse from Williamstown, sophomore Cammy Wright from Cherry Hill West and junior Olivia Shafer from Egg Harbor Township were Rowan’s No. 3, 4 and 5 runners, and the Profs placed 4th with 119 points.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 