WASHINGTON -- A year removed from the creation of the Eastern Eight, the then one-sport league that would become the Atlantic 10 Conference added four men’s sports. Men’s Cross Country being one of them.
In 1978, Penn State won the inaugural A-10 Men’s Cross Country crown. Penn State dominated in the first 12 seasons. The Nittany Lions claimed seven titles in that span including five straight championships from 1986 to 1990. Six Penn State runners won the individual title including Eric Carter. Carter won the ‘86 and ‘87 individual crowns, while setting what is now the seventh fastest time (23:51) in conference championship history.
West Virginia was a force in the league from 1983 to 1994. During those 11 years, WVU captured six conference championships. That included three straight titles in 1983 to 1985. Alongside their six team titles, WVU claimed seven individual titles. Jean-Pierre Ndayisenga and Bob Donker were pivotal for West Virginia. Ndayisenga won back-to-back championships in ‘84 and ‘85. Donker won three straight individual titles – the only A-10 Men’s Cross Country runner to complete that feat.
During the 2000s, La Salle became a powerhouse in cross country. The Explorers won their first team championship in 1999, and then rattled off four consecutive titles from 2001 to 2004 and won two more in 2006 and 2007. Since 1999, La Salle clinched 11 A-10 titles and had eight individual winners. Sean Quigley won back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002 and Todd Witzleben clinched two consecutive crowns in 2005 and 2006. MacCallum Rowe raced to the fastest time in A-10 history at the 2024 championship in 23:37.9.
Since Loyola Chicago joined the league ahead of the 2022 season, the Ramblers have won two team titles and two individual crowns. Chris Devaney claimed back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023.
Over the course of the sport's 45-year history in the Atlantic 10, 39 men’s cross country runners have won individual championships and 14 programs clinched team banners.
Men’s Cross Country
| Year |
Team Champion |
Score |
Individual Champion |
Time |
| 2024 |
Massachusetts |
36 |
MacCallum Rowe (LAS) |
23:37.9 |
| 2023 |
Loyola Chicago |
26 |
Chris Devaney (LUC) |
23:48.6 |
| 2022 |
Loyola Chicago |
37 |
Chris Devaney (LUC) |
23:59.6 |
| 2021 |
La Salle |
53 |
Peter Borger (UR) |
24:35.3 |
| 2020-21 |
Richmond |
44 |
Luke Jaciw-Zurakowsky (LAS) |
24:30.4 |
| 2019 |
La Salle |
53 |
Zachary Michon (SJU) |
25:02.7 |
| 2018 |
Dayton |
72 |
Ryan Kutch (FOR) |
24:45.1 |
| 2017 |
Dayton |
66 |
Manuel de Backer (SLU) |
25:12.3 |
| 2016 |
Dayton |
57 |
Rico Galassi (DUQ) |
24:32.3 |
| 2015 |
Saint Joseph’s |
77 |
Steven Flynn (MASON) |
24:21.1 |
| 2014 |
George Mason |
50 |
Rad Gunzenhauser (SJU) |
24:33.6 |
| 2013 |
La Salle |
27 |
Nico Greco (LAS) |
23:46.9 |
| 2012 |
Butler |
38 |
Travis Mahoney (TU) |
25:16.5 |
| 2011 |
La Salle |
39 |
Alfredo Santana (LAS) |
24:18 |
| 2010 |
Richmond |
51 |
Andrew Benford (UR) |
24:12 |
| 2009 |
Saint Joseph’s |
56 |
Chris Lemon (UD) |
26:13.3 |
| 2008 |
Massachusetts |
75 |
Adu Dentamo (CHA) |
24:01.9 |
| 2007 |
La Salle |
37 |
Tom Slosky (DUQ) |
25:39 |
| 2006 |
La Salle |
52 |
Sean Quigley |
24:39.90 |
| 2005 |
Duquesne |
44 |
Sean Quigley (LAS) |
24:28.9 |
| 2004 |
La Salle |
24 |
John Ciccarelli (UR) |
25:30 |
| 2003 |
La Salle |
29 |
Andre Laboy (SJU) |
24:46.7 |
| 2002 |
La Salle |
19 |
Todd Witzleben (LAS) |
25:22 |
| 2001 |
La Salle |
16 |
Todd Witzleben (LAS) |
25:00.3 |
| 2000 |
Saint Joseph’s |
27 |
Karl Savage (SJU) |
24:52 |
| 1999 |
La Salle |
35 |
Chris Seaton (VT) |
25:01.0 |
| 1998 |
Saint Joseph’s |
29 |
John Williams (SJU) |
25:13 |
| 1997 |
Virginia Tech |
19 |
Matt Zacharias (VT) |
25:34.7 |
| 1996 |
Virginia Tech |
28 |
Matt Byrne (SJU) |
25:24.7 |
| 1995 |
Massachusetts |
42 |
Matt Byrne (SJU) |
25:23.54 |
| 1994 |
West Virginia |
35 |
Mike Dudley (WVU) |
25:15 |
| 1993 |
West Virginia |
24 |
Bob Donker (WVU) |
26:08.91 |
| 1992 |
Saint Joseph’s |
29 |
Bob Donker (WVU) |
25:05.82 |
| 1991 |
West Virginia |
34 |
Bob Donker (WVU) |
25:37.32 |
| 1990 |
Penn State |
19 |
Mark Wimmer (PSU) |
25:18.4 |
| 1989 |
Penn State |
19 |
Jeff Novak (PSU)/Doug Walter (PSU) |
25:18 |
| 1988 |
Penn State |
25 |
Brian Laird (PSU) |
24:48.6 |
| 1987 |
Penn State |
21 |
Eric Carter (PSU) |
24:46 |
| 1986 |
Penn State |
27 |
Eric Carter (PSU) |
23:51 |
| 1985 |
West Virginia |
30 |
Jean-Pierre Ndayisenga (WVU) |
23:42.7 |
| 1984 |
West Virginia |
15 |
Jean-Pierre Ndayisenga (WVU) |
25:13.5 |
| 1983 |
West Virginia |
17 |
Steve Taylor (WVU) |
25:51 |
| 1982 |
Penn State |
30 |
Jeff Adkins (PSU) |
26:04.7 |
| 1981 |
Rutgers |
24 |
Jim Casey (RU) |
31:32 |
| 1980 |
Rutgers |
19 |
Tony Uzwiak (RU) |
24:38 |
| 1979 |
Villanova |
23 |
Kip Korir (VU) |
25:49.2 |
| 1978 |
Penn State |
28 |
Sydnee Maree (VU) |
25:19.0 |