BRUNSWICK, ME.  9/17/11 -   An early-week leg strain didn't slow down Paige Mills, who raced to an impressive win at the Maine Cross Country Invitational at Brunswick, Maine on Saturday.  "I was a little nervous and apprehensive how it would go today, but I felt awesome and ran comfortable," said Mills, a senior from Keene.  "This race was a good test of what the New England Regionals will be like, so I wanted to have a good day."

Mills, an All-American led from the start, posting a winning time of 21:45 on the flat and quick 6K course.  Senior Andrea Walsh (Bolton, Conn.) had a top-10 finish, placing eighth (22:46) in the talented field.  Senior Sarah Titus (Derry, N.H.) and junior Maggie Fitter (Branford, Conn.) finished in 11th (22:51) and 12th (22:53) respectively while freshman Melanie Escalante (New Canaan, Conn.) was the Owls' fifth runner with a time of 23:45.  Sophomore Erin Crawford was right behind in 30th place (23:47).

Keene State finished third in the team scoring with 60 points.  Tufts won the team title with 49 points followed by Colby with 57 points.

Kevin Hoyt continued to be the leader of the pack for the Owl men's team.  The senior from Newtown Conn. finished fifth on the 8K course with a time of 25:28.  Sophomore Ryan Widzgowski (Camden, Maine) was KSC second-man, placing 14th in a time of 25:54.  Juniors Thomas Paquette (Bolton, Conn.) who was 23rd (26:15) and Andrew Sears (Derry, N.H.) who placed 29th (26:29) were the next Owls to cross the finish line.  Sophomore Chance Wilk (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) was Keene State's fifth-man, finishing 69th with a time of 27:39.

Keene State was fourth in the seven team field with 109 points.  Tufts' Matt Rand won the race (25:05) leading the Jumbos to the tram championship with 35 points.  

"It wasn't a bad day.  The women had a strong performance," said KSC Coach Peter Thomas.  "The guys got out well, but faded a little bit in the second half of the race, but they'll get stronger and hold their positions better as the season progresses."

KSC will compete at the KSC Invitational on Oct. 1.