Complete Results

JOPLIN, Mo. - Senior Frank Fezza became East Stroudsburg University's first All-American in men's cross country since 1986, placing 21st at the NCAA Division II Championships on Saturday at Missouri Southern University.

Fezza, the PSAC and Atlantic Region runner-up, led the Warriors to 25th in a field of 32 schools in their first trip to the NCAA Championships since 1989. He is the first All-American since Jack Cuvo (1985-86) and joins Cuvo and Pete Heesen (1975-76) as the only All-Americans in program history.

Fezza ran a time of 30:08.2 on the 10K course after clocking 30:53.4 in the Atlantic Regional at Lock Haven two weeks ago. He was the runner-up to Lock Haven's Alex Monroe in both the PSAC and regional meets and one of four All-Americans from the PSAC, joining Monroe (5th), Shippensburg's Matt Gillette (17th) and Edinboro's Bryan Deibel (19th).

Senior Jim Romano was the Warriors' second finisher, placing 117th with a time of 31:40.9. Romano was fifth on the team at both the PSAC and regional meets. He was followed by senior Amr Aldeen (163 - 32:11.7) and sophomores Chris Schneider (181 - 32:31.6), Steve Ruch (212 - 33:06.8) and Chris Ott (221 - 33:17.8). Senior Mike Pereira, third on the team at the first two postseason meets, was unable to finish due to illness from late in the week.

Edinboro, the Atlantic Region champion, tied for 9th as the region's top finisher. Lock Haven, which tied ESU for second in the region, tied for 18th on Saturday.

Adams State (Colo.) was the team champion and Micah Chelimo of Alaska Anchorage was the individual champion, running 28:56.6 for a 16-second margin of victory.

ESU made its fourth appearance in the NCAA Championships, with the 2012 team joining squads from 1985, 1987 and 1989. The Warriors' best national finish was 10th in 1985.

ESU had its best-ever regional finish this season by tying Lock Haven for runner-up.


ESU Results
21. Frank Fezza - 30:08.2
117. Jim Romano - 31:40.9
163. Amr Aldeen - 32:11.7
181. Chris Schneider - 32:31.6
212. Steve Ruch - 33:06.8
221. Chris Ott - 33:17.8

PSAC All-Americans
5. Alex Monroe (Lock Haven)
17. Matt Gillette (Shippensburg)
19. Bryan Deibel (Edinboro)
21. Frank Fezza (ESU)