PHILADELPHIA - iSportsWire -- As Caldwell University senior Joey Datta (Edison, N.J./Edison H.S.) came through the finish line at Sunday's Central Atlantic Athletic Conference (CACC) Men's Cross Country Championships in a meet record time of 26:14.70, he brought with him an unprecedented third consecutive title and third CACC Runner of the Year honor. His gold medal helped the Cougars men's team to a second place finish, its best in history, at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia.

Datta finished nearly a minute ahead of the nearest competitor. He was followed closely by senior Alfredo Oidor (Garfield, N.J.) in seventh place at 27:52.08 and freshman Luke Molyneux (Ocean Township, N.J.) placing 13th at 28:31.61 to give the Cougars three All-Conference performers.

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But it took a solid effort across the board for the Cougars to earn second overall, and the rest of the squad delivered with junior Chad Manning (Belleville, N.J.) taking 18th at 29:14.43, sophomore Alex Jamieson (Portree, Scotland) in 30th at 30:07.28 and sophomore Logan Kudla (Bloomfield, N.J.) in 33rd at 30:20.52. Freshman Nicholas Montiel (Totowa, N.J.) rounded out the Cougars' effort in 52nd (33:39.49).

Datta, who last year became the second two-time champion in meet history in 2023, today shattered the 26:23 mark set in 2012.

The Cougars will compete on Nov. 9 at the NCAA DII East Region Championship at Matt St. James Cross Country Trails in Rochester, N.Y.

http://www.caldwellathletics.com