'KEENE, N.H. 10/4/03-  Both Keene State College's men and women cross country teams raced to victories at the ninth annual KSC Invitational held Saturday at Owl Athletic Complex. It is the first time Owl teams have won both titles in the same year.

The Owl men's team, which finished with 20 points,  swept the top three places to win the Invitational for the fifth straight year.  The Dartmouth 'B' squad was second with 37 points.

In the women's field, the KSC  and Dartmouth 'B' team tied with 34 point each. The  Owls were awarded the title based on the higher placement of their sixth runner. 

KSC junior  Dave Bridgewater (Unionville, Conn.) posted a time of 25:50 over the flat five mile course to claim the first individual title of his career.  Teammates Josh Ferenc (Westmoreland, N.H.) placed second (26:13) and Dave Raymond (Princeton, Mass.) was third (26:18).  Mike Burleson (Portland, Me.) (5th/26:40) and Ryan Gough (Billerica, Mass.) (9th/26:53) round out the top Owl scorers.

"I was just trying to do a workout and stay relaxed, said Bridgewater about his 37 second win. "As it turned out I got out there and felt pretty good and I was able to sty focused the entire time."

Megan Newton (18:49) and Allie Hunter (19:04) of Dartmouth finished first and second respectivley in the 5K women's race.   Laurie Yorgensen (Wethersfield, Conn.) placed third (19:26)  and Stephanie Gibson (Sanbornton, N.H.) was fourth (19:33) to pace the Owl women.  Karen Jordan (Enfield, N.H.) (6th/19:55) and Chepina Witkowski (Keene, N.H.) (7th/19:58) also placed for the Owls.  KSC was awarded the team title based on the higher finish of their sixth runner.  Allison Fergione (Marlborough, Conn.) was 15th (20:56) while Dartmouth's Kristen Kelly was 21st (21:41).

Men's Team Results: (1) Keene State 20; (2) Dartmouth 'B' 37; (3) Tufts 82; (4) U.S. Merchant Marine 111;( 5) Southern Maine 134; (6) Bryant College 175; (7) Lasell College 219;

Men's Individual Results: (5 miles) (1) Dave Bridgewater, Keene State 25:50; (2) Josh Ferenc, Keene State 26:13; (3) Dave Raymond, Keene State 26:18; (4) Pat Martha, Dartmouth 26:30; (5) Mike Burleson, Keene State 26:40;

Women's Team  Results: (1) Keene State 34*; (2)Dartmouth 'B' 34; (3) UMass-Lowell 73; (4) Bryant College 92; (5) Lasell College 124;

*KSC wins based on higher place of sixth runner

Women's Individual Results: (5K) (1) Megan Newton, Dartmouth 18:49; (2) Allie Hunter, Dartmouth 19:04; (3) Laurie Yorgensen, Keene State 19:26; (4) Stephanie Gibson, Keene State 19:33; (5) Allison Donovan, UMass-Lowell 19:41.