Southern Maine Edged Keene State For Men's Cross Country Championship

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The University of Southern Maine narrowly defeated rival Keene State College to capture the 2011 Little East Men’s Cross Country Championship this afternoon on a rain soaked course on the campus of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The Huskies placed five runners inside the top-10 of the individual standings to edge the Owls, 31-36.

Keene State Kevin Hoyt (Newtown, Conn.) became the second-straight and 11th overall Owl to win the individual title. The senior dominated the 8-kilometer course, finishing the championship race in 24 minutes, 50 seconds. Rhode Island College junior Conor McCloskey (Wakefield, R.I.) was the second conference runner to cross the finish line, completing the course in 25 minutes, 43 seconds. Senior Tim Even (Stoneham, Maine) was the first Huskies’ runner to trip the timer four seconds off McCloskey’s pace.

The University of Southern Maine featured a well-balance squad with six runners finishing within the top-10 to earn the program’s fourth Little East championship in the past six years. Sophomore Julian Gazzelloni (Windham, Maine) covered the course in 25 minutes, 54 seconds to edge senior John Vallo (Beacon, N.Y.) for fifth place by three seconds. Sophomore Jon Clement (South Portland, Maine) led a pack of three Huskies across the finish line. Clement placed eighth overall with a time of 26 minutes, five seconds, while senior Ben Manning (Jericho, Vt.) and Chris Apkarian (Alton Bay, N.H.) finished ninth and 10th, respectively.    

Keene State was unable to defend its team championship as three Owl runners finished within the top-10. Sophomore Ryan Widzgowski (Camden, Maine) was the second Keene State runner and fourth overall to cross the finish line, covering the course in 25 minutes, 48 seconds. Junior Thomas Paquette (Bolton, Conn.) placed seventh with a time of 26 minutes.

Rhode Island College (88), University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (106), Eastern Connecticut State University (144), and University of Massachusetts Boston (145) completed the six-team standings.