James Bailey earns All-American honors at 2016 NCAA Cross Country Championship

2016 Nov 23

Junior James Bailey (Danvers, MA/Danvers) earned All-American honors as he represented the RIT men's cross country team at the 2016 NCAA Division III Men's Cross Country Championship on Saturday, Nov. 19 at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky.

Bailey earned his first All-American accolade, placing 27th overall out of 278 runners over the 8,000-meter course in an impressive time of 24:48.4. He became RIT's first All-American since Matt Giannino in 2014. Bailey was 37th after the 2,000-meter split (6:05.7), 19th at the midway point (12:47.8), and 15th overall at the 6,000-meter split (19:12.8). He was the second best Liberty League finisher and third place finisher among all Atlantic Region runners.

"I am very proud of James," said RIT head coach David Warth. "He worked steadily throughout the season to earn this prestigious honor. He has been a steady worker his entire career, especially this summer, showing that consistent, hard work pays off."

Ryan LaMere of the University Wisconsin-Platteville won the 8,000-meter race for the second consecutive year, by nearly 30 seconds in a time of 23:40.4. North Central College of Illinois won the team title with 60 points, as they had four runners in the top-25. SUNY Geneseo was the runner-up with 204 points.

Bailey recorded four top-10 finishes for the Tigers in 2016, including a victory in the season-opening Cardinal Early Season Invitational hosted by St. John Fisher on Sept. 2. Last weekend, Bailey was fifth at the 2016 NCAA Atlantic Region Championship last weekend in a career best time of 24:28.3. He was also fourth at the Yellowjacket Invitational, hosted by the University of Rochester on Sept. 17 and eighth at the Liberty League Championship on Oct. 29, earning Liberty League Second Team accolades.

A six-time RIT Male Athlete of the Week, Bailey was also an All-Liberty League first team selection in 2015 and two-time All-Atlantic Region performer.

The top 35 individual finishers at the NCAA Championship earn All-American honors.