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Under the direction of long-time coach Peter Thomas, a former Owl runner, Keene State College is recognized for producing some of the top men’s and women’s cross country and track athletes at the league, regional, and national level.
Now in his 28th season, Thomas, the recipient of multiple coach-of-the-year honors at both the Division II and III level, including LEC men's and women's cross country coach of the year awards last fall, is looking forward to another productive year on the trails and track for his highly-successful program that has developed a combined 47 cross country and 104 track All-Americas, including one cross country and 18 track national champions.
Last fall, the KSC men’s cross country team placed third at the New England regional meet and earned its first NCAA berth since 2005. He has led the Owl men's team to a combined 16 NCAA championship berths, including nine consecutive trips (1997-2005) as a Division III member. His 1999 and 2000 teams were national runner-ups. KSC has also captured 10 Little East titles and four (1999-2002) New England regional crowns.
Thomas led the KSC women’s cross country team to its 10th consecutive LEC championship last fall and had a runner earn an at-large berth to the nationals. The Owls finished fifth regionally and made their inaugural NCAA appearance in 2006.
Having earned a reputation as one of the top cross country coaches in Division III, Coach Thomas has now set his sights on developing a well-rounded and competitive track and field program at Keene State. He took a major step in that direction in 2002-03 by directing Mary Proulx and Mark Miller to their fifth and fourth national championships, respectively. The Keene State women have had a pair of fourth place finishes at the NCAA championship, indoors in 2006 and outdoors in 2008.
Keene State has continued to add to its list of All-America in recent years. In 2009, Keene State produced three track All-Americas, including Bryan Kolacz, the national champion in the hammer throw. Last season, the Owls produced five All-Americas with Kolacz finishing sixth and third respectively in the weight throw and hammer, Allison Chamberlain raced to second place finish in the 800, and Peter Najem doubled up in the 800 (7th) and 1,500 (8th).
Needless to say, Coach Thomas, a New Ipswich, N.H., native has high hopes for both programs this year.
jnapolitano@keene.edu
603-358-2146
John Napolitano enters his second season as the Head Throws Coach at Keene State in 2010-11. Napolitano, a 2008 graduate of Keene State, also serves as the Assitant Sports Information Director at Keene State.
As a student-athlete, Napolitano was a two-year captain and SAAC team representative at Keene State College. He earned All-LEC honors six times, including third place finishes in the 35-lb weight in 2007 and 2008. He also qualified for New England Championships in 2007.
A Providence, Rhode Island native, Napolitano graduated from Classical High School in 2004. He studied under hall-of-fame coaches Al Morro and Robert Palazzo and qualified for Rhode Island State Championships and New England Championships his senior year in the discus and 12-lb hammer.
Napolitano's responsibilities will include running day-to-day practices for the throwers and assisting head coach Peter Thomas in recruiting efforts.
Napolitano resides in Keene, N.H.
An Assistant Professor of Health Sciences at Keene State, Proulx brings a wealth of knowledge in the area of strength and conditioning to the Owl track and field teams this season as an assistant coach.
Proulx, who earned his undergraduate degree in health and fitness form Keene Sate in 1994, will work primarily with KSC sprinters, jumpers, and throwers as a conditioning coach, helping to maximize their performance in competition. He has also developed a highly successful conditioning program at Keene High School.
Prior to joining the KSC faculty, Proulx was Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at Georgetown (Ky.) College, and Department Chair and Associate Professor Applied Medical Sciences at Hesser College in Manchester. He earned his Master's in exercise science from Appalachian (N.C.) State University in 2000 and also holds doctorate degrees in chiropractic healthcare and exercise science. While at Appalachian State, Proulx did research work with Mike Stone, a renowned authority on resistance training and two-time Olympian Meg Ritchie.
Originally from Arlington, Mass., Proulx grew up in Keene and
was a state qualifier in the discus as a senior at Keene High
School. He and his wife Margarita reside in Keene.
