BRISTOL, R.I.  11/6/10 –  Running in just his second race of the season, senior Jeff Trethewey (Merrimack, N.H.) raced to a sixth place finish to lead Keene State at the ECAC Division III cross country championships held at Colt State Park in Bristol, R.I. on Saturday.

Coming back from an injury, Trethewey posted a time of 26:22 on the on 8K course.  I felt good. It's the best I felt in a long time," said Trethewey. 

KSC Coach Peter Thomas said Trethewey's performance earned him the final spot on the varsity squad that will compete at the NCAA New England Regional Championships next weekend.

Sophomore Tom Paquette (Bolton, Conn.) was the KSC's second runner, finishing 34th (27:13).  The remaining scorers for the Owls included freshman Chris Chapman (Groton, Conn.), who placed 80th (28:08), freshman Chris Ager (Keene, N.H.), who finished in 102nd place (28:22) and sophomore Chance Wilk (Burnt Hills, N.Y.), who was 104th (28:24).

The Owls, who ran their sub-varsity runners at the ECAC meet, finished ninth in the team standings with 320 points. Williams claimed their sixth consecutive title with 94 points.

Freshman MacKenzie Curtis (Lamoine, Maine) was the top finisher for the Keene State women's team.  She finished 60th on the 6K course with a time of 24:52.

Other top freshmen finishers for the Owls included: Nikki Leeman (Round Pond, Me.), who placed 71st (25:09), Erin Crawford (Townsend, Mass.), who finished 104th (25:57), Kristian Sullivan (Keene, N.H.), who place 111th (26:08) and Molly Metivier (Keene, N.H.), was finished in 122nd place.

Keene State tallied 460 points to finish 14th in the team standings.  Middlebury won its second straight ECAC crown with an impressive 21 point effort.

The Owls will now get set for the NCAA Regionals next Saturday at Williamstown, Mass.