Fairleigh Dickinson University cross country standout Samuel Chelanga (Nairobi, Kenya/Bartolimo) (Nairobi, Kenya) won the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional meet, Saturday, Nov. 11 in Lock Haven, PA. The freshman bested 177 competitors, clocking in at 30:09.6, en route to setting the course record and earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.

Senior Rudy Urena (Fairview, NJ/Cliffside Park) (Fairview, NJ) also competed, recording a time of 34:11.4, in the 10-K event that was hosted by Bucknell University on the campus of Lock Haven University.

Chelanga broke the West Branch Cross Country Course record set in 2000 by Jeff Barker of Edinboro (30:16.09). The layout had runners on the same path and going different directions on three occasions. One of the loops consisted of more than 20 directional shifts.

“The course was confusing and I couldn't worry about time,” Chelanga said. “I made my push when I gave up worrying about directions and just concentrated on running. I'm happy to set the course record after some of the problems.”

“Today was a competitive race and we're excited about Samuel's performance,” Head Coach Sharlene Milwood-Lee said. “We look forward to nationals with what will be unchartered territory for him as a freshman. It'd be nice to end the season at nationals with a bang.”

A shade more than two weeks ago, Chelanga dominated the 74-runner men's field at the 8-K Northeast Conference Championships at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, NY ? his fourth collegiate meet ? clocking in at in 24:03, almost 1:45 ahead of the next finisher. His time also broke a 13-year old NEC meet record held by fellow FDU distance runner Vinko Markovina (24:27) since the championships were first decided on an 8K course in 1988.

Chelanga took down NEC Outstanding Performer of the Year, NEC Freshman of the Year and All-Conference accolades, byproducts of winning every meet he competed in this fall. He is the first OPY since Stephen Ondieki won back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2000 and the first ROY since Alfred Korir (/Samoei Secondary) in 2000.

The freshman's final meet of the season will be held Monday, Nov. 20 in Terra Haute, IN.