The 2008 Moravian College men’s cross country team, under the direction of second-year coach Welles Lobb, placed 8th in the Landmark Conference championships and 27th at the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional.

Leading the Greyhounds was sophomore Connor Skutches (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty HS), who record his best time of the season, 26:49, at the 35th Annual Brooks Paul Short Run where he placed 33rd. Senior Jeremiah Reinhart (Effort, PA/Pleasant Valley HS),  also had a good season, recording his best time of 27:31 at the Cougar Classic. Skutches, pictured at right, finished seventh at the 2008 Landmark Conference Championships to earn a spot on the Landmark All-Conference First Team, while Reinhart placed eighth to earn a place on the Landmark All-Conference Second Team.

Freshman Matthew Lutcza (Dingmans Ferry, PA/Delaware Valley HS) ran his best time of 27:30, at the 35th Annual Brooks Paul Short Run and finished 16th in the conference meet, while freshman Zach Rivenbark (Center Valley, PA/Southern Lehigh HS) ran his best time of 27:58 at the Lehigh Valley Championship and finished 36th in the conference meet. Freshman Pete Rovtar (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge HS) ran a 28:21 at the 35th Annual Brooks Paul Short Run and placed 31st in the conference meet while junior Steve DeFazio (Branchburg, NJ/Somerville HS) ran a 28:44 at the Lehigh Valley Championship and finished 34th in the conference meet.

Many other Greyhounds ran their personal best at the 35th Annual Brooks Paul Short Run, such as junior Timothy Betz (Havertown, PA/Haverford HS), who ran a 29:10 and junior Steve Parisi (Kunkletown, PA/Pleasant Valley HS) who ran a 29:17. Three other Hounds also had personal records at the Brooks Paul Short Run, sophomore Jacob Tazik (Wyomissing, PA/Wyomissing HS), who ran a 30:10, senior John McCullough (Levittown, PA/Conwell-Egan HS) who ran a 32:14, and freshman Jonathan Gutierrez (Allentown, PA/Dieruff HS), who ran a 32:41. Sophomore Jesse Miller (Lewisburg, PA/Lewisburg HS) ran his personal best at the 2008 NCAA Division II Mideast Regional, running a 30:12.

Skutches, Tazik, Betz, DeFazio, Miller and McCullough were all named to the 2008 Landmark Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll. Skutches was also named to the 2008 Landmark Conference Fall All-Academic Team.

Story written by Katie Flood '10.