Skyhawks see four placed on All-Conference teams
Taxter was the runner up at the Championship tallying his sixth-career All-Conference honor |
HOPKINTON, New Hampshire (November 4, 2018) – The Stonehill College men's cross country team, ranked No. 1 in the East Region in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches poll, took home their eighth second-place finish, their fourth in five years, at the Northeast-10 Conference Championships Sunday afternoon at Hopkinton State Fairgrounds.
Southern Connecticut State University took home their first title of the program's history with a total of 50 points, as Stonehill merely missed the title by seven points, combining for 57 points overall. American International College finished in third place with 60 points, three behind the Skyhawks, while Southern New Hampshire University placed fourth with 91 points, and Merrimack College totaled 152 points, good for fifth. The Yellow Jackets saw Leakey Kipkosgei win his third-straight individual championship with a time of 24:22.2.
Senior Lucas Taxter was the first Skyhawk across the finish line, as he was six seconds behind Kipkosgei, taking home his third All-Conference accolade in cross country. Taxter clocked in a time of 24:28.1 for his sixth-career All-Conference honor.
Classmates Alexander Demeule and Riley Dowd place fourth and fifth, respectively in their fourth-career NE10 Championships. Demeule collected his third cross country All-Conference honor and fourth–career tally, clocking in a time of 25:05.9. Dowd has also earned his third cross country All-Conference accolade and his fourth-career mark, crossing the finish line in 25:06.0.
Demeule took home fourth place for his fourth-career All-Conference honor |
Nickolas McNamee was the next Skyhawk across the finish line clocking in a time of 25:40.5 in the eight-kilometer race taking home 21st out of 151 competitors. The freshman competed in his first NE10 Championship and collected his first All-Conference honor.
Sophomores Kevin Wheelock and Jeff Pichie were next for the Skyhawks, finishing 25th and 26th, respectively. Wheelock clocked in at 25:52.1 with his second cross country All-Conference honor and his third-career accolade, while Pichie improved his freshman year mark, clocking in a time of 25:52.6 earning his first-career All-Conference honor.
Senior Christopher Drace was the final Skyhawk to tally points for the team as he finished 29th overall, not far from the sophomores, crossing the finish line in 26:05.1.
Other Performances:
Christopher Kelly – 39th, 26:26.4
Sean Conlan – 48th, 26:35.3
Chris Gendron – 57th, 26:52.0
Evan Kennedy – 81st, 27:39.0
Following the NE10 Championship, the Skyhawks will be off for a week before attempting to win their fifth East Region Championship. The race takes place on Saturday, November 17th at Bethpage State Park in Bethpage, New York, hosted by Adelphi University.
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