Holmdel, N.J. - Led by 2011 Northeast Conference Freshman of the Year Tip Worob (Denton, Md. / North Caroline), the Robert Morris University men's cross country team finished fifth at the 2011 NEC Championships at Holmdel Park Saturday with a score of 163.

Taking home its third straight NEC title was Central Connecticut State, which finished with a score of 54. Saint Francis (Pa.) (67), Mount St. Mary's (131), Monmouth (133) and the Colonials rounded out the top five.

Worob navigated the eight-kilometer course in a time of 27:05.30, the first freshman to cross the finish line and eighth overall. He is the first RMU student-athlete to claim NEC Freshman of the Year accolades since the award first was handed out in 1996 and also was bestowed All-NEC status for his performance.

The last student-athlete to finish higher than Worob for Robert Morris at the NEC Championships was former Colonial Michael Bruno, who placed fifth at the 1988 NEC Championships at Cloves Lake Park in Staten Island, N.Y. Former Colonials Tim Souders and Mike Booth also recorded eighth-place finishes at the NEC Championships, with Souders accomplishing the feat in 1990 and Booth in 2005.

Senior Sam Alexander of Central Connecticut State claimed the individual championship at the 2011 NEC Cross Country Championships, finishing with a time of 25:59.10. Junior teammate Craig Hunt notched second at 26:06.90.

Following Worob for RMU was senior Brian Mitchell (Allison Park, Pa. / Hampton), who posted a time of 27:34.00 to finish 21st. Senior Arthur Leathers (Taneytown, Md. / Francis Scott Key) finished just outside the top 30, compiling a time of 28:05.80 to earn 31st.

Also scoring for Robert Morris was sophomore Dorian Rumble (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Penn Hills) and senior Greg Opp (Somerset, Pa. / Somerset). Rumble posted a time of 28:32.30 to finish 52nd, while Opp registered a mark of 28:37.40 to notch 55th.

The Colonials now gear up for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals, which take place Saturday, Nov. 12, in Princess Anne, Md.