River Hawks Add to Trophy Case at America East Cross Country Championships

Friday, October 30

Albany, NY

University of Massachusetts Lowell

America East Cross Country Championships

10/30/2026 3:44:00 PM | Men's Cross Country/Track & Field

Head Coach Gary Gardner Press Conference

ALBANY, N.Y. – The UMass Lowell men's cross country team won its seventh consecutive America East Championship on a windy day in New York. Five River Hawk runners were named to America East All-Conference teams after the 8k.

"Overall, I'm happy with the day," said Head Coach Gary Gardner. "The men didn't have their best day, but they really fought over the last two miles, and we were able to secure another championship."

Junior Devin Moreau (Tyngsboro, Mass.) led the all-conference runners and was named to the First Team after finishing third overall. Sophomore Will Simard (Francestown, N.H.) joined him on the First Team with a seventh-place finish.

The trio of sophomore Will Conklin (Danvers, Mass.), junior Dante Castellano (Nashua, N.H.) and sophomore James Cruse (Melbourne, Australia) each earned America East Second Team nods after finishing in 12th, 13th and 14th.

Following the race, Castellano received the America East Elite 18 award, given to a student-athlete who exemplifies excellence in the sport and in the classroom. He has a 4.00 GPA as an Environmental Science major.

Additionally, the River Hawk coaches were awarded the America East Coaching Staff of the Year.

Moreau battled at the front of the pack the entire race, ultimately clocking in at 24:14.2. Simard set a personal best with his time of 24:25.6. Also setting a personal record was Conklin, who ran a 24:31.5 8k.

Not only did Castellano win the Elite 18 award, but he also set a personal best after finishing in 24:33.3. Cruse was exactly a second behind him. Senior Keegan Tierney (East Greenwich, R.I.) set a personal best after finishing 21st and crossing the line at 24:44.7.

Freshman Sean Finnegan finished one place behind him at 24:46.0. Sophomore Isaac Henderson finished just outside the top 25 at 24:52.2.

Senior Nicholas Marcotte (Hudson, N.H.) and sophomore Chris Guerin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) finished in 29th and 30th place, respectively. Graduate student Ethan Mashtare (St. Albans, Vt.) rounded out the River Hawk lineup in 33rd with a time of 25:04.3.

Up next, UMass Lowell begins prep for another postseason meet in the Empire State. The NCAA Northeast Regionals, hosted by Hofstra, are set for Friday, November 13 in Bethpage, N.Y.