Men's Cross Country Competes at MASCAC Championships
Westfield, MA - Fitchburg State College captured the
Massachusetts State College Athletics Conference (MASCAC) men's
cross-country championship with a close victory over Bridgewater
State and Westfield State on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Stanley
Park.
In one of the closest meets in the 37-year history of the MASCAC
championships, Fitchburg State totaled 52 points, followed by
Bridgewater State (58), and Westfield State (59).
Also, it was only the second time in meet history that a team
captured the crown by scoring 50 or more points.
Fitchburg State won the MASCAC title for the first time since 2003
and its fourth overall with some solid pack running. The Falcons
placed six runners in the top 18, led by senior Phil McCormick's
fourth-place finish.
Also earning all-conference honors for the Falcons by placing in
the top 10 was sophomore Matt Spano (7th place). Kyle Schaeffer was
11th and Chris Kibler came in 14th for Fitchburg.
Bridgewater nosed out Westfield for second place as its top three
runners placed in the top six, led by individual champion Avery
Bouchard, who continued his fine running this season by touring the
five-mile course in 25:41.94.
The Bears' Brian Stewart placed third and teammate Ryan D'Arcangelo
was sixth.
Worcester State's Forest Wilbur, last year's individual champion,
finished second, trailing Bouchard by nearly 26 seconds
(26:07.26).
Mass. Maritime Academy senior Kyle Ingersoll finished fifth. Three
Westfield State runners finished strong to earn all-conference
honors: senior Phil Gingras (8th), junior John Connolly (9th), and
freshman Jon Joyce (10th). Junior Chris Mantos placed 13th for the
Owls and Greg Seery was 19th.