HOLMDEL, N.J. – Robert Dillon set the pace for Fairfield University Men's Cross Country with a 47th place finish on Saturday at the 2019 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship. The Stags placed ninth in the 8K race at Holmdel Park in Holmdel, N.J.
 
Dillon crossed the finish line in 27:12.29 to take 47th in the 163-runner field. All five of Fairfield's scoring runners were among the top half of the field, with the rest of the quintet with Dillon comprised of Benjamin Breton (27:23.78), James Vizzard (27:35.62), Mike Dziuba (27:42.68) and Pacifico Flores (27:48.58).
 
The Stags' showing slotted them ahead of Niagara and Saint Peter's and only 10 points behind eighth-place Quinnipiac. Perennial power and #8 nationally-ranked Iona won the MAAC Championship for the 29th consecutive season. The Gaels scoring runners were the first five harriers to cross the finish line, with Ehab El-Sandali breaking the tape with a winning time of 25:07.15.
 
As a part of the championship festivities, the Stags had four student-athletes tabbed for the MAAC All-Academic Team: Ryan Brennan, Christopher Margres, Nick Rispoli and Connor Secora.
 
Fairfield Men's Cross Country continues its championship season on Friday, Nov. 15 in Buffalo, N.Y. at the 2019 NCAA Northeast Regional Championship.