Complete Results

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Paced by a stunning performance by junior Bobby Over, Allegheny men's cross country looked to secure its seventh consecutive berth to the NCAA Division III Championships as the team  finished third out of 47 schools at Saturday's NCAA Mid-East Region Championships hosted by DeSales University. Over provided the heroics in the Gators' surprising finish as he became the second runner in program history to break the tape at regionals.

Allegheny will have to wait until Sunday night for an official announcement on its inclusion in the 2011 NCAA field, although Saturday's effort against a deep and talented field leaves the Blue and Gold in great position. The Gators were ranked sixth in the region for most of the year, but finished just two points behind nationally ranked No. 5 Dickinson. Defending national champs and nationally-ranked No. 1 Haverford captured the Mid-East Regional team title.

“We executed our race plan,” remarked head coach Brent Wilkerson. “Figuratively speaking, we knew it was do-or-die today, and our guys really stepped up and delivered.”

Over authored an incredible race from start to finish. In the top 10 after the opening mile, he pulled in front of the pack by the end of mile two. Over maintained his lead through the rest of the 8k race, and held off Haverford senior Eric Arnold for the individual title in a tight sprint into the chute. Over split 25:25, and although he finished as the top collegiate finisher at the prestigious Calvin Invitational, Saturday marked his first outright career win.

The Gators put the rest of the region on notice after placing three runners in the top 11. Junior Kevin Edwards was fantastic en route to eighth place with a time of 25:48, while senior Pat McLaughlin closed 11th in 25:55. All three runners copped All-Region honors.

Junior Mike Vlah finished 45th overall in 26:50 while sophomore Jack Denison held off rookie teammate James Rynes for the team's final scoring spot. Rynes, who closed 75th overall, finished as the seventh-best runner in the field. Denison split 27:23 and Rynes completed the 8k circuit in 27:29. Fellow first-year teammate Alex Simon broke the finish line in 27:37, the 11th-fastest rookie time in the field.

Allegheny, which was ranked No. 2 in the national polls entering last year's race, finished fifth overall at the Mid-East Regional Championships and 15th at the NCAA Championships.