HANOVER, INDIANA 11/23/13 – It was a beautiful day at the L.S. Ayres Athletic Complex on the campus of Hanover College in Indiana on Saturday as Keene State senior Ryan Widzgowski took off from the starting line at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships. 

Looking to become the first men's cross country All-America at KSC since Dave Bridgewater in 2004, Widzgowski appeared to be fine form through the first half mile.  But a few yards down the 8k course, Widzgowski began to experience stomach cramps.

"He's got them at different times this year, but he said this was the worst one," said KSC Coach Peter Thomas. "It started bothering him three-quarters of a mile into the race and got progressively worse. He's pretty bummed about it." 

"We can't figure out why. He tried to do exactly the same thing he did before the regionals last Saturday," said Thomas.  "Ryan said he felt great during the warm-up.  The gun went off and he felt terrific for the first half mile, but then he started cramping and by the end he was doubling over in pain."

Widzgowski still managed to finish the race, finishing in 262th place with a time of 27:48. Already an All-America in indoor and outdoor track, Widzgowski was hoping to join an elite group of Owl runners that included Rod Ellsworth, Scott Hatch, Rob Edson, Mark Miller, and Bridgewater, who have earned All-America honors in indoor and outdoor track as well as cross country. 

"He'll be focused even more on track now," said Thomas.