Princeton University
NCAA Championships
Men's Cross Country Places 11th at NCAA Championships, Bendtsen Earns All-America Honors
November 18, 2023 | Men's Cross Country
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Princeton men's cross country team placed 11th at the 2023 NCAA Cross Country National Championship at Panorama Farms. Nicholas Bendtsen led the way for the Tigers securing a 11th place finish, which ties the Princeton team record for highest finish at the NCAA National Championships.
In a highly competitive field of 31 teams, the Princeton Men's Cross Country team delivered a commendable performance, securing an 11th place finish. The race showcased the Tigers' strength when competing at the highest collegiate level.
Nicholas leads the way!
— Princeton Track/XC (@PrincetonTrack) November 18, 2023
Clocking in at 29:38.6 in the Men's 10K, Bendtsen claims the highest finishing position for the Tigers. pic.twitter.com/dGjSfjwgrB
Leading the charge for the Princeton Tigers was Nicholas Bendtsen, who crossed the finish line with a time of 29:38.6, securing the 29th spot overall. With this finish, Nicholas Bendtsen has been honored as a 2023 NCAA Division I Cross Country All-American. Bendtsen achieves the distinction of being Princeton's first All-American since Donn Cabral, who secured the title twice in 2010 and 2011 and also competed in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.
"Very proud of this team and our effort today," said Nicholas Bendtsen. "This meet can be very daunting and intimidating with all the people and all the best runners there but we were able to keep our cool and stay focused on running the race we wanted. 11th in country is a fantastic finish to a fantastic year. On the individual side I was very happy with how the race went, executed really well. But overall it's just a reflection of this program. I owe all success not only to my teammates in the race but everyone in the locker room back at Caldwell. So thankful to be a part of this program and all I want to do is to make my teammates proud every time I put on that uniform."
A Tiger All-American??
— Princeton Track/XC (@PrincetonTrack) November 18, 2023
With a 29th place finish in today's 10K, Bendtsen claims All-American honors! pic.twitter.com/NxwEn9ymgZ
Connor Nisbet, clocking in at 30:07.2, claimed the 59th position, followed by Daniel O'Brien who posted a time of 30:30.6, earning him the 94th spot. These three Tigers finished within the top 100 runners out of 254 total runners.
Anthony Monte and Matthew Farrell secured the 101st and 132nd positions, respectively, with times of 30:34.7 and 30:50.3. The squads's depth was further highlighted by the contributions of Connor Livingston, who finished with a time of 31:16.1, claiming the 168th spot, and Jarrett Kirk, who crossed the line at 31:19.6, securing the 175th position.
The race marks the conclusion of an exceptionally successful season for the Tigers, during which they emerged victorious in both the Ivy Heps race and clinched first place at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals.
"We had a great game plan going into today's race," said head coach Jason Vigilante. "The guys executed the plan to move up spots throughout the race well. I'm so proud of all that we accomplished this season, from winning at Heps, winning at Regionals, to today with the 11th place finish and how well Bendtsen was able to run. A shoutout to all of our seniors who worked hard all season to set the standard."
Team Results
11.Princeton - 345
Individual Results - Men's 10K
29.Nicholas Bendtsen (29:38.6)
59.Connor Nisbet(30:07.2)
94.Daniel O'Brien (30.30.6)
101.Anthony Monte (30:34.7)
132.Matthew Farrell(30:50.3)
168.Connor Livingston (31:16.1)
175.Jarrett Kirk (31:19.6)
Players Mentioned
