Erion Ends Career on Top at Wilmington

WILMINGTON, Ohio (October 14, 2011) - Senior Eddie Erion (pictured) ended his 4-year cross country career at Urbana University by running his 2nd fastest 8K in over 20 career races. The reigning Blue Knight Runner of the Year finished a clean sweep of the fall's races, leading Urbana's pack at all 6 races.  On Friday night at the Wilmington College Fall Classic, Erion crossed the finish line in 28:31, which is the 4th fastest time in school history.  Erion ran the school's fastest 8K at the exact same race as a freshman in 2008, earning First Team All-Independent honors in the process.  No Blue Knight since then has broken the 28-minute barrier.  As a team, the Blue Knights picked up a pair of victories, finishing in 24th place overall in a field of 26 D-I, D-II and D-III schools.

 

For three years, Erion has run alongside fellow senior Andy Stephan (pictured).  The duo has finished first and second on the squad at every race since 2009 when Stephan transferred in from Shawnee State.  At last year's season finale at Wilmington, Stephan clipped Erion at the wire to earn his first team win since their sophomore seasons, but Erion held off Stephan on Friday night.  Stephan's time of 29:26 was 20 seconds better than his last race at Cedarville, but it fell just outside of the all-time top 10 at Urbana.  Both Erion and Stephan end their careers with 5 of the top 10 times in school history. 

 

Finishing behind Erion and Stephan was junior Jordan Perry.  Perry came in at 30:30, trimming an incredible 49 seconds off his personal and season best.  Sophomore Patrick Malloy followed Perry's lead by cutting a full half minute off his personal and season best.  Malloy crossed the finish line in 32:27 to take 4th on the squad. Sophomore Ryan Castle finished fifth on the squad and just edged his personal best by 3 seconds.  Castle came in at 32:55.  Joshua Cronin capped his cross country season with a time of 35:08, and sophomore Daniel Little came in at 37:23 to round out Urbana's team results.  Cronin and Little, along with Stephan, now turn their focus to swimming as all 3 are two-sport athletes who begin their second season this weekend.

 

Friday's race concludes the fall season and the careers of Erion and Stephan, who finish as the most successful runners in the program's 4-year history.  Erion is the lone remaining member of the inaugural cross country team. He competed in every single race of his 4-year career.  Congratulations on the completion of your terrific Blue Knight careers Eddie and Andy. [Race Results]