Westfield Captures MASCAC Men's Cross Country Championship
Westfield, Mass. - Westfield State College claimed its 23rd overall title by taking top team honors at the 2009 Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference Men's Cross Country Championships on Saturday afternoon at Stanley Park.
The Owls posted a team score of 37 points to best runner-up and 2008 champion Fitchburg State College's total of 48 points, while Bridgewater State College was third overall with a score of 49 points. Salem State College and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy finished fourth and fifth, respectively, with team scores of 111 and 130 points, while Worcester State College (165 points) and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (184 points) rounded out the team scoring by placing sixth and seventh, respectively.
Westfield State freshman John Dacey (Franklin, Mass.) was the 2009 individual champion, as he covered the five mile layout in a time of 26:55.48 to earn both MASCAC Runner and Rookie of the Year accolades. Owl sophomore Pat Regan (Wilbraham, Mass.) finished as the individual runner-up with a time of 27:03.73, while the Bridgewater State tandem of sophomore Bill Taft (Hanson, Mass.) and freshman Stephen Wahome (Lowell, Mass.) placed third and fourth, respectively, with times of 27:09.49 and 27:09.83. Westfield State freshman Anthony Frissora (Shrewsbury, Mass.) gave the hosts three runners in the top five by posting a mark of 27:11.44 on the day.
Junior Matt Spano (Gardner, Mass.), senior Kyle Schaeffer (Hudson, Mass.) and sophomore Chris Kibler (Bath, Maine) placed sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively, for Fitchburg State with times of 27:14.96, 27:20.10 and 27:27.76, while Salem State junior Alex DeRosa (Saugus, Mass.) finished ninth individually with a time of 27:29.37. Bridgewater State junior Ryan D'Arcangelo (Norfolk, Mass.) rounded out the top 10 and the 2009 MASCAC all-conference squad with a time of 27:48.43.
The Rams top finisher was freshman Greg Hartwich (Holliston, Mass.) who finished the course in 31:06.21 and set a new personal best. Patrick Boyle (Boston, Mass.) was the Rams other runner and he finished in 37:36.00.
Westfield State Head Coach Bill Devine was honored by his peers as the 2009 MASCAC Coach of the Year, as he guided the Owls to their third league title in four seasons and sixth of the decade.
FINAL TEAM
SCORES
1.
Westfield
State
37
2.
Fitchburg
State
48
3.
Bridgewater
State 49
4.
Salem
State
111
5.
Mass.
Maritime
130
6.
Worcester
State 165
7.
MCLA
184
Release courtest of MASCAC Sports Information.