'WILLIAMSTOWN, MA. 11/9/02 -The Keene State College men placed third and the Owl women finished 13th at the ECAC Cross Country Championships held Saturday at Williams College.

The KSC men tallied 127 points to finish behind team champion Colby College (80 points) and host Williams (123 points).

Freshman Patrick Ard (Kingston, N.H.) was the Owls' top finisher (10th) covering the 8K course in a time of 27:28.  Casey Cole (Southbury, CT) was right behind in 12th with a time of 27:34. Both runners earned All-ECAC honors.

Rounding out the top finishers for KSC were Colby Monahan (Yarmouthport, MA.) (30th/28:05), Kevin McGrath (Auburn, N.H.) (36th/28:13), and Joe Hegarty (Springfield, MA.) (39th/28:16).

Arvi Kramer of Vassar College won the race (26:22) in the 37-team field.

The Keene State women finished the competition in 13th place with 344 points.  Williams won the women's team title with 32 points. There were 30 complete teams.

Chepina Witkowski (Keene, N.H.) was the Owls' top finisher (22nd place). She covered the 6K course in 25:14. 

Other scorers for KSC included Shannon O'Brien (Tilton, N.H.) (63rd/26:09), Allison Fergione (Marlborough, CT) (71st/26:19), Ellen Blaisdell (Luneburg, MA.) (104th/27:04), and Melissa Harvey (Blackstone, MA.) (111th/27:19).

Amanda Jinks of Plattsburgh won the race (23:30) in the 30-team field.

Keene State will now get set for the NCAA Regionals next Saturday at Westfield State. The defending champ Owls will be shooting for their fourth straight title.