'WESTFIELD, MA. 11/16/02  – The Keene State College men's cross country team raced to its fourth consecutive Division III New England Regional Championship at Stanley Park in Westfield, MA., on Saturday.

Since moving to Division III in 1997, the Owls have qualified for the NCAA Championships every year. 

Hoping to join the Owl men at the Championships next Saturday at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., the Keene State women's team fell short of its goal by just 10 points.  Needing to finish among the top-five teams, KSC placed sixth with 216 points, 10 points more than Wesleyan University (206 points). There was some consolation for the team, which was missing its second runner Beth Vachon (Amherst, N.H.) who was playing with the women's soccer team.  Both Mary Proulx (Ashland, N.H.), with her fourth place finish (21:06) and Karen Jordan (Enfield, N.H.), who placed 17th (22:12) qualified as individual runners for the meet. It is the first time KSC has sent two women runner to the NCAA Championships.

The Keene State men had a surprisingly easy victory over second place Bowdoin College.  Placing four runners in the top-20, the Owls finished with 64 points to outdistance the Polar Bears, who finished with 111 points.

"I expected Bowdoin to be a lot closer," said KSC Coach Peter Thomas.  "The men ran a very good race.  "Everyone did what he had to do.  It was a great team win."

Mark Miller (Shelburne Falls, MA.) led the Owls with a second place finish.  He covered the five-mile course in a time of 24:36, 11 seconds behind front-runner Ryan Bak of Trinity (24:25).

Dave Bridgewater (Unionville, CT), who placed eighth (25:01) and Josh Ferenc (Westmoreland, N.H.), who finished 12th (25:06) also had strong performances for KSC.  Dave Raymond (Princeton, MA.) and Paul Phelps (Pittsfield, MA.) rounded out the top scorers for the Owls.

Looking to win the individual championship. Proulx had to settle for fourth place after mildly twisting her ankle during the race. "She felt uncomfortable and didn't want to push it," said Thomas.  "It's more important that she's ready for the nationals."

Finishing in 17th place, Jordan claimed a spot at the NCAAs by covering the 3.1-mile course in a time of 22:12. 

Other top finishers for the Owls included Stephanie Gibson (Sanbornton, N.H.) (39th (22:54), Chepina Witkowski (Keene, N.H.) (70th/23:35) and Laurie Yorgensen (Wethersfield, CT) (86th/23:52).

Freshman Caroline Cretti's first place finish (20:35) led Williams College to the women's team title with 33 points. Middlebury College was second (61 points.).

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