Track: Haley Races to First Place Finish in 10,000

'DEDHAM, MASS. 5/8/04 - Competing at the New England Division III Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships Saturday at Northeastern University, Keene State College's Matt Haley (Middleton, Mass.) raced to a first place finish in the 10,000-meter with a time of 31:46.89. 

In other events, the 4x800 relay team placed second and set a new school record with a time of 7:43.20.  Relay members included Dave Bridgewater (Unionville, Conn.), Casey Cole (Southbury, Conn.), Ryan Gough (Billerica, Mass.), and Mike Burleson (Portland, Me.).  Pat Ard (Kingston, N.H.) finished third (32:09.09) in the 10,000-meter, Josh Ferenc (Westmoreland, Mass.) took fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:19.66) and Bridgewater was fifth in the 1,500-meters (3:53.51).

Keene State was 7th in team scoring (33 points), the highest placing for the Owls in the New England Championships yet.   The University of Rhode Island won the men's team championship with 123.50 points. 

In women's competition, Shannon O'Brien (Tilton, N.H.) placed 12th in the 800-meters with a season-best time of 2:16.58.  Erin Landon (Hampton, Conn.) finished eleventh in the 1,500-meters (4:43.76). 

Boston College won the women's team championship with 115.50. 

The Keene State College men's and women's outdoor track team will travel to Williams College next weekend for the ECAC Championships.