'HANOVER, N.H. 09/10/05 - The Keene State College men's cross country team began its 2005 season with a solid third place finish at the Dartmouth Invitational in Hanover, N.H., on Saturday.
The Owls had 96 points. Host Dartmouth had five runners place in the top six to claim the team title with 18 points. Brown finished second with 43 points. Nine teams competed at the meet. Ben True of Dartmouth won the race in 25:05.80.
Ryan Gough, who placed 12th, was the first Owl to the finish line. The senior from Billerica, Mass. posted a time 25:59.90 over the 8K course.
Other top finishers for KSC included Patrick Ard (Kingston, N.H.) (19th/26:25.30), Joseph Hegarty (Springfield, Mass.) (20th/26:27.60), Matt Haley (Middleton, Mass.) (21st/26:29.10), and Kevin Kelleher (Rocky Hill, Conn.) (41st/26:56.50). Leading the KSC freshmen were Sheridan Welch (Merrimack, NH)(46th/27:06, Ryan MacNeely (Haddam, Ct.)(50th/27:16) and Peter Najem (Derry, N.H.) (61st/27:36.90.
The Keene State women finished seventh in the nine-team field with 193 points. The Big Green swept the first three sports to win the race with 31 points. Melanie Schorr of Dartmouth won the race in 19:19.10.
Sophomore Jennifer Adams (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) finished 26th (21:06.00) over the 5K course to lead the Owls.
Other top KSC finishers included Shannon O'Brien (Tilton, N.H.) (45/21:34.80), Erin Landon (Hampton, Conn.) (55th/22:10.10), Stephanie Westcott (Bellows Falls, Vt.) (60th/22:23.90), and Sophie Holly (Ledyard, Conn.) (65th/22:35.60).
Keene State competes at the UMass-Dartmouth Invitational next Saturday.