Results

BOSTON, Mass. –- The UMass Lowell men's cross country team turned in a strong showing, Saturday, while continuing to work on its depth on the 8k course at Franklin Park in the New Cross Country Championships.

"It was a really good performance," according to Head Coach Gary Gardner.  "We used this meet as a tune up for some runners and for others it was a matter of getting them championship meet experience that will help down the road.  We finished about where we should have."

UMass Lowell finished ninth in a field of 26 schools despite holding most of those likely to run under the River Hawk banner at the America East Conference Championships.  The River Hawks accumulated 239-points (16, 35, 55, 66, 67 - 79, 133).  UMass Amherst topped the team standings with 84-points (6, 10, 19, 24, 25 - 53, 58).  Northeastern was second, MIT finished third.  UMass Lowell was the top finisher among the four America East schools that fit under the "New England" umbrella.  New Hampshire was 13th, Maine 19th and Hartford 22nd.

Graduate student Dhahran Velasquez (New Britain, Conn.) was the top UMass Lowell finisher.  Velasquez, who has struggled at times this season, finished 16th clocking in with a time of 25-minutes, 25.89-seconds.  It was his strongest run of the season.

"We were looking to get him going and he responded," said Gardner.  "We were tuning him up and that was much better than he had run this season."

Velasquez has been a key contributor for River Hawk teams that have scored well at the conference championships.

"For Dhahran, the key is his focus," according to Gardner.  "He's often had lapses during the race where he's struggled, but today he was focused and fought all the way through.  If he continues to do that, he's a factor."

Senior Cody Kingman (Dudley, Mass.) was the second River Hawk scorer.  Kingman posted a time of 25:50.82.  

Junior Grant Hauver (Holden, Mass.) was the next across the finish line.  He posted a time of 26:08.92.  Hauver is a middle distance runner with the potential to develop as a cross country runner.

"A run like this is designed to help him get ready for the track season," according to Gardner.  "But we are also hoping that he'll be a cross country contributor next year."

Freshman Jack Kalil (Milford, Mass.) and sophomore Noah Bellomo (Hudson, N.H.) finished out the scoring for UMass Lowell.   They finished just seconds apart.  Kalil was 66th in a field of nearly 180 competitors, Bellomo was 67th with times of 26:15.88 and 26:19.05 respectively.

For Bellomo, a middle distance runner, the time was a personal best even though the run was a workout designed as preparation for the track season.  For Kalil the strong run was all part of the process of building toward the next cross country season.

UMass Lowell men face a stiff test next weekend.  Saturday they will run in the NCAA Pre-National Meet in Madison, Wisconsin.  The Zimmer Championship Course will host the National Championships in six weeks.