PHILADELPHIA -- As senior Joey Datta (Edison, N.J.) came through the finish line at today's 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 on Sunday morning.

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.

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.

Full results are available here.

Team Standings
1. Wilmington 49
2. Caldwell 67
3. Jefferson 80
4. Goldey-Beacom 102
5. Felician 123
     Georgian Court 123
7. Holy Family 174
8. Dominican 232
9. Bridgeport 233
Chestnut Hill & Post - incomplete