Results

BOSTON, Mass. – The UMass Lowell cross country teams showed their depth, Saturday, at the NEICAAA New England Championships at Franklin Park in Boston.

Both the men's and women's teams were without their most experienced runners who were given a week away from competition in preparation for next week's Pre-National Meet in Louisville, Kentucky.  The men finished seventh and women 15th in a field of nearly 30 teams.  It is a dramatic step up after finishing 23rd and 24th respectively a year ago.

The coaching also used the event as an opportunity to get a better feel for who can provide the needed depth as the teams are put together for the America East Conference Championships at the end of the month.  

"It was a good day," according to UMass Lowell Head Coach Gary Gardner.  "We were very pleased with the showing especially because we had kept our most experienced runners out of the competition and got a good look at those who will provide depth when we need it most.  The top four men were great and on the women's side Allie Morris ran a great race.  She's right where we need her to be."  

The men accumulated 241-points (22, 27, 41, 57, 94 - 108, 173).  Stonehill took the men's 8K title with 119-points (5, 9, 24, 38, 43 - 66, 82).  UMass Lowell women totaled 406-points (8, 76, 101, 103, 118 - 137, 173).  New Hampshire won the 5K event with 101-points (4, 10, 25, 27, 35 - 60-106).

Junior Allie Morris (Walpole, Mass.) turned in the strongest performance of the day.  She finished eighth in a field of nearly 200-runners.  Morris clocked in at 18-minutes, 17-seconds.  She was second among America East runners in the event.

"She's very talented and she ran with renewed confidence," said Gardner.  "She was really focused and ran a smart race.  She ran real tough in the last mile; she fought through to a totally different level.  It was good to see her step up."

Morris has run several strong races in the past, but has been hampered at times by nagging injuries.  At the moment she appears to be healthy and that could be a key for the women's team.

Senior Rachel Eatherton (Tewksbury, Mass.) was the second River Hawk scorer.  She finished 76th with a time of 19:31.  Freshman Alexandra Matsis (Milford, N.H.) and senior Lydia Lyman (Hudson, N.H.) finished within a second of one another.  Matsis was 101st and Lyman 103rd with times of 19:49 and 19:50 respectively.  Freshman Jenna Solimine finsihed out the scoring with a 118th place finish and a time of 20:05.

Freshman Benjamin Drezek (Cumberland, R.I.) led the men's team.  He finished 22nd with a time of 25:55.

"We knew he was a good steeplechase and track runner," said Gardner, "but he raised his cross country performance to a whole new level.  He ran gritty; he ran tough.  This was the best race of his life."

Drezek went out a little too quick, but fought back as the race wore on.

Junior Josh Fontaine (Lebanon, N.H.) was right on Drezek's heels.  He hit the finish line two-seconds later, 25:57, good for 27th position.

"He getting healthy and it appeared he turned a corner; he was real competitive," according to Gardner.  "He looked good.  He ran himself all the way down to 'empty' and ran tough.

Freshmen Kyle Cloutier (Lancaster, Mass.) and Ryan Gillooly (Stow, Mass.) turned in strong performances as well.  Cloutier was 41st with a time of 26:14, Gillooly 57th (26:27).

Junior Phillip Demers (Hudson, N.H.) wrapped up the River Hawk scoring.  He was 94th with a time of 27:02.

The stakes begin to take on greater significance next week.  The River Hawks will send teams to the NCAA Pre-National Meet in Louisville, Kentucky.   The Tom Sawyer State Park course is the one used for the NCAA Championships in November and this event attracts some of the top teams in the country.