Benjamin Fazio Named Performer of the Week Again

2016 Oct 18

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athlete Benjamin Fazio of East Greenwich 02818 has been recognized by the Liberty League, earning the conference's Performer of the Week in men's cross country, it has been announced.

In the premier Division III meet in the country, the Inter-Regional Border Battle hosted by Rowan University in New Jersey, Fazio (East Greenwich HS) led Rensselaer to third place out of 40 competing schools, 10 of which were nationally-ranked. The senior captain finished the 8K course in well under 24 minutes, placing fourth overall in the field of 374 with a time of 23:35.1. He had a per mile pace of 4:45 and was within 16 seconds of the winner. Fazio finished just one second out of third place.

As a team, the 11th-ranked Engineers garnered 168 points and trailed only SUNY Geneseo (71), the top-ranked team in the nation, and fifth-ranked MIT (127). No. 20 Haveford University (184) was fourth, No. 18 New York University was fifth (216) and No. 13 St. Lawrence University was sixth (277).

In five meets this season, Fazio has finished in the top 5 in each and helped the team to two wins, a runner-up, a third and a fifth place finish. He was previously named Performer of the Week following a victory at the Saratoga Invitational, which Rensselaer hosted.