CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Although the Keene State College outdoor track teams did not achieve marks on Thursday that will have them competing at the national level next week, there was one word head coach Dan Roark repeatedly mentioned afterward: proud.  Battling through injuries and weather, the Owls completed their season at the MIT Final Qualifier as a select group looked for NCAA qualifying times at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Steinbrenner Stadium/Morrison Track.

KSC set a number of school record not only in the outdoor season, but also indoor, and has plenty to build on for 2026-2027 – not the least of which is a men's team that won the indoor conference championship in the winter before being beat up with injuries in the spring, but nonetheless battling throughout.

The Owls' select group that traveled to MIT included seniors Molly Lu McKellar and Maggie St. John, competing in their final collegiate meet.  McKellar logged a silver in the shot put, throwing 11.84 meters, while St. John ran the steeplechase in 11:54.39.  Keely Giordano qualified for the finals in the 100 meter dash in 12.44 before running a 12.64 in the finals to place seventh, while Elle MacDonald was sixth (25.80) in the 200.  First year Makenna Knapp threw the javelin 36.77 meters, good for fifth.  On the men's side, Troy Tenney was seventh (54.88 meters) in the same event.

"We did not have any major marks today, but we had an overall solid meet to close out the season," said KSC head coach Dan Roark.  "I am proud of the way this group closed out the season and especially proud of the way Maggie and Molly Lu closed out their careers.  I am a proud coach and very excited to see what those two and the rest of the senior class does moving forward because they are a special group."

Under Roark, KSC continues to harken back to their days of immense success in both track and cross country – continuing to build every season under his leadership.  The Owls figure to continue to be in the mix next year, returning a nucleus on both sides that will continue to elevate the program.