University of Massachusetts Lowell
Keene State Alumni Invitational
First Time Out, a Solid Showing
8/31/2013 9:07:00 PM | Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Freshman Connor Doyle leads River Hawks at the Keene State Alumni Invitational
Freshman Connor Doyle turned in a strong showing as the UMass Lowell men's cross country team finished third in a field of seven at the Keene State College Alumni Invitational.
The event was won by the Keene State College Alumni team with 28 points, (1, 2, 5, 9, 11 – 12, 16). Keene State College finished second with 32 points. UMass Lowell was third with 78 points (6, 13, 18, 20, 21 – 22, 23.)
"We were pretty beat up from the work this past week," says head coach Gary Gardner. "We wanted to get the meet in, give the young kids a good start to the year. The next couple of weeks reality sets in."
Keene State Alumni runner Eric MacKnight won the event in a time of 15-minutes and 46-seconds. Josh Ferenc, also a Keene State Alum finished second in a time of 16:04. Keene State sophomore Ryan Brady, the first Collegiate to complete the course, crossed the finish line in a time of 16:14.
Doyle was the first River Hawk finisher running the five-thousand meter course in a time of 16-minutes and 24-seconds. It was good enough for sixth place overall and third among college runners.
"He's got more experience than the typical freshman," says Gardner. "He's a more mature runner and it showed."
Sophomores Zachary Ganshirt (Walpole, Mass.) and James Wigglesworth (Marblehead, Mass.) finished 13th and 18th respectively. Ganshirt earned a time of 16:46, Wigglesworth, 17:00.
Seniors Tyler Sullivan (Methuen, Mass.) and Justin Reddy (Methuen, Mass.) finished out the scoring for the River Hawks. They placed 20th and 21st finishing four seconds apart with times of 17:09 and 17:13.
The River Hawks get their first taste of America East competition Saturday at the America East Pre-Conference Meet in Vestal, N. Y.
