Alexander Fifth, USA Wins in Trinidad & Tobago
Assistant cross country and track and field coach Sam Alexander placed fifth among elite runners from around the world, helping Team USA claim first place.
Central Connecticut's Sam Alexander placed fifth at the 2014 NACAC Championships this weekend in Trinidad & Tobago. He was the third runner for Team USA to cross the finish line, helping USA claim the gold medal.
Team scoring counted the top four runners for each team. Team USA tallied just 16 points, followed by Canada (30) and Jamaica (47).
Alexander's fifth-place finish came in a time of 24.54.77. He raced the course in a field of 25 runners.
Alexander was selected to race at the 2014 NACAC Championships after competing for Team USA at the 2014 Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country race in Edinburgh, Scotland in January. He qualified for the race in Scotland by placing ninth out of 410 runners with his 10K time of 31.27 at the USA Club Cross Country Championships in December.
A former CCSU standout student-athlete, Alexander racked up numerous accolades during his tenure as a Blue Devil including the 2011 Northeast Conference Individual Champion title, NEC All-Conference honors in 2010 and 2011 and also led CCSU to it's third-straight NEC victory in his final season.
Alexander joined the coaching staff in the fall of 2012, in which CCSU won its fourth-consecutive NEC title, followed by its fifth this past season.
Team USA receives its gold medal atop the podium (Alexander bottom left of USA team).