The 2021 NEC Rookie of the Year began his junior season picking up right where he left off with an impressive finish in a highly competitive field that included No. 6 regionally ranked Marist and No. 10 regionally Columbia. The Cape Town, South Africa native led the Sharks on Saturday at the Stony Brook Season Opener 6.2K, finishing second overall among 63 harriers. Ayyoub, who placed second at the NEC championship last year, crossed the tape in 18:49.20, just under seven seconds behind the winner.