Three-Peat: Stonehill Collects Third Straight NE-10 Title


Stonehill won its third consecutive NE-10 Championship today in Manchester, N.H.

Seniors Leonard, Fontanella lead way for Skyhawks

Manchester, N.H. (October 27, 2013) – The Stonehill College men's cross country team, among teams receiving votes in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II poll, and ranked third in the East Region poll, captured its third consecutive Northeast-10 Championship, and eighth in program history, with 57 total points today on the campus of host school Saint Anselm College.

Senior Stephen Leonard (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) was the first Stonehill runner to cross the finish line, placing seventh overall among 154 participants, in 25:48. Immediately behind him in eighth place was senior captain Trent Fontanella (Pelham, N.H./Bishop Guertin), who clocked in at 25:49.

The next group of Skyhawks finished the race just a few spots after Fontanella, beginning with senior Scott Waller (Andover, Mass./Andover) in 13th place, in 26:01. Junior captain Bryan Wilcox (Plantsville, Conn./Southington), who was Stonehill's top finisher at last year's NE-10 championship, finished 14th overall today, clocking in at 26:03. Sophomore Robert Massey (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) became the fifth Skyhawk to complete the eight-kilometer course, doing so in 26:06, good for 15th place overall.


Senior Stephen Leonard was Stonehill's top finisher today, placing seventh with a time of 25:48.

The final two runners to earn points for Stonehill today were junior Daniel Zawalich (Paxton, Mass./St. John's), who placed 23rd in 26:21, and freshman Adam Rego (Rumford, R.I./La Salle Academy), who finished 25th overall with a time of 26:29.

As with the women's team, coach Karen Boen stressed the importance of depth to her team's success. "This has been a tough year with illness and injury, but the guys banded together, dug deeper and got it done. We don't rely on one top runner, but rather on depth. Adam Rego wasn't scheduled to race today until Daniel Gordon was scratched yesterday, and he ended up finishing in the top-25 for us."

American International College's Michael Biwott (Kaspowar, Kenya/Kerio Valley Secondary School) won the individual title for the second straight year, completing the course in 24:53, and he was followed by another Yellow Jacket, freshman John Chirchir (Kapsabet, Kenya/Laboret Boys).

Franklin Pierce University earned a second place team finish at today's event, doing so with 70 points. The top-heavy Yellow Jackets finished third, with 82 total points, followed by Southern Connecticut State (100 points), and Adelphi University (120 points).

Following today's Northeast-10 Conference Championship, Stonehill returns to action on November 10th at the NCAA Division II East Regional Championships, held at Franklin Park in Dorchester, Mass., and hosted by Stonehill.

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter and Facebook. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks mobile app on iTunes and the Android Market.

 

Northeast-10 Year End Awards

Men's Athlete of the Year – Michael Biwott, American International
Men's Rookie of the Year – John Chirchir, American International
Men's Coach of the Year - Karen Boen, Stonehill 

Northeast-10 Men's Cross Country First Team All-Conference
Michael Biwott, American International
John Chirchir, American International
Anthony Fiermonte, Assumption
Nicholas Filippazzo, Adelphi
Antoine Gisore, Franklin Pierce
Makopa Rugabirwa, Franklin Pierce
Stephen Leonard, Stonehill


Northeast-10 Men's Cross Country Second Team All-Conference
Trent Fontanella, Stonehill

Paul Ryskowski, Southern Connecticut
Asher Brandt, Southern Connecticut
Sean Grady, New Haven
Nick Christensen, Merrimack
Scott Waller, Stonehill
Bryan Wilcox, Stonehill

Northeast-10 Men's Cross Country Third Team All-Conference
Robert Massey, Stonehill

Jeremy Antivo, American International
Dieter Gutbrod, Southern Connecticut
BJ Smith, Franklin Pierce
Andrew Reifman-Pack, Saint Rose
Dage Minors, Franklin Pierce
Colton Ham, Franklin Pierce