Bryson claims second x-country All-America honor, Stender just misses first

From Ryan Stender '18 and two-time All-American Emily Bryson with coaches Sinead Evans and Steve Flanagan (photo courtesy Jim Bryson)
From Ryan Stender '18 and two-time All-American Emily Bryson with coaches Sinead Evans and Steve Flanagan (photo courtesy Jim Bryson)
Posted: Nov 19, 2016

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – Brandeis University sophomore Emily Bryson (Quincy, Mass./North Quincy) captured her second career All-America honor today by finishing 24th overall at the 2016 NCAA Division III Championships at E.A. "Tom" Sawyer Park in Louisville, hosted by Spalding University today.

"I just kept thinking of all my girls, my team, that's all I thought about," Bryson said after the meet. "I gave it everything."

Bryson, who finished 31st overall at the NCAA Division III Championships a year ago, improved by seven spots from her debut year. She turned in a time of 21:09.9 for the eight-kilometer course, about 34 seconds faster than in her rookie season in Wisconsin. Bryson was part of a pack of four runners who crossed the line at the same time.

Bryson becomes just the fifth woman in school history to win multiple All-America honors in cross country. She joins Nicole Fogarty '89, Jean Olds Cann '92, Theresa Patten '94 and Mariko Tansey Holbrook Neveu '03. She was the fourth finisher from New England in this year's race – after finishing 12th at the New England Regional – and fourth among University Athletic Association runners – after placing third at the conference championships. Bryson was also the seventh sophomore to cross the line.

Senior Amy Regan of Stevens Institute won the race in 20:16.4, while Johns Hopkins defeated the UAA's Washington University, 128-202, to win the team title for the fourth time in five years.

On the men's side, junior Ryan Stender (Amherst, Mass./Amherst Regional) missed his first collegiate All-America by just 1.8 seconds, as he finished in 37th place in the men's race. Stender covered the eight-kilometer course in 24:57.7, just two spots out of All-American status. Stender, the first Brandeis male to qualify for nationals since 2010, finished sixth among New England runners – he was 11th at the regional championships – and was fourth among UAA runners – after placing second at the conference championships.

Senior Ian LaMere of Wisconsin-Platteville won the race in 23:40.4, while North Central (Ill.) easily outdistanced SUNY Geneso, 60-204, to win the team title.