HOPKINTON, N.H. — Junior Sean Kennedy-Wonneberger (East Haddam, Conn.) and senior Jan Wouter Van Den Akker (Groningen, Netherlands) helped lead the UMass Lowell men' cross country team to eighth place in the men's 10k at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Northeast Regional, hosted by UMass Lowell.

Kennedy-Wonneberger, expressing his resilient drive, was just two seconds shy of cracking the top 10 after staying attached to the group during the men's 10k. He would finish in 11th place with a time of 30:14.77 as the first River Hawks runner to finish.

"The men ran well, especially Sean, but it looks like he will just miss advancing to the NCAA Finals," said Head Coach Gary Gardner. "I am really pleased with how all seven guys competed and we came in ranked 9th and placed 8th. I think we had a little more room but overall, it was a successful day."

After Kennedy-Wonneberger, Van Den Akker would pull his way into the Top-25, placing 23rd after crossing the finish line with a mark of 30:32.28. Prior, Van Den Akker had taken a bronze medal at the 2024 America East Cross Country Championship just two weeks ago. Both Kennedy-Wonneberger and Van Den Akker earned All-Region honors for placing within the top 25 runners. 

Inching his way into the Top-50, senior Will Benoit (Fairhaven, Mass.) placed 48th with a mark of 31:06.07. Following behind were graduate student Hunter Marion (Templeton, Mass.), finishing in 72nd place at a time of 31:28.37, and graduate student Henry Farrington (Essex Junction, Vt.), who came in 78th place with a mark of 31:34.06. 

Graduate student Joe Young (Dorchester, Mass.) was next to cross the line, finishing in 110th place with a time of 32:07.05. Rounding out the River Hawks was junior Ethan Mashtare (St. Albans, Vt.), who went on to place 163rd with a time of 32:53.25.