The Muhlenberg cross country teams put together a memorable season, as

Belisonzi’s fifth-place finish at the CC Championships was the best by a Mule runner since 1993.

both teams won an invitational title and finished in the top 10 regionally.

The women placed ninth at the NCAA Mideast Regional, just one off their best finish ever. Senior Jenna Belisonzi finished 14th to earn all-region honors for the second straight year.

The Mules posted their best finish ever at the Centennial Conference Championships, coming in fourth. Belisonzi finished fifth, earning All-CC honors, but it was Muhlenberg’s fourth and fifth runners who secured the fourth-place finish. After the top three runners from each team crossed the finish line, Swarthmore had a 20-point lead on Muhlenberg. But junior Christy Grandjean and freshman Laura Clinton came in 30th and 33rd, respectively, giving the Mules the points they needed to claim fourth by two points when Swarthmore’s fourth and fifth came in 40th and 45th.

The team also made history winning its first-ever meet away from home, the McDaniel Invitational. Muhlenberg placed five of its runners in the top 20, including three in the top 10 (Belisonzi, third; junior Karen

Martin had his best season as a senior. He was Muhlenberg’s top finisher at the DeSales Invitational and was the second Mule across the line at the NCAA Mideast Regional.

Mount, seventh; and Clinton, ninth).

The men’s team finished 10th at the Mideast Regional, giving the team its third top-10 finish in the last four years. Junior Alexander Hotz was top finisher for the Mules in 46th place.

Muhlenberg finished in fourth place at the CC Championships, marking its fifth consecutive top-four conference finish. Hotz earned second-team All-CC honors by finishing 14th.

The Mules also won the McDaniel Invitational by placing seven runners in the top 14 to take first place by a 34-61 margin. Hotz (third) and sophomores Stephen Rothwell (third) and Lex Mercado (sixth) all finished in the top 10.

Both teams have promising futures. Belisonzi was the lone senior on the women’s squad, while the men had only one (Christopher Martin) in their top seven.