Peter Thomas is looking to celebrate his 26th season as head coach of Keene State's men's and women's cross country and track programs by returning the Owls to the NCAA championships and adding to KSC's long list of All-Americans.

Under Thomas, the recipient of multiple coach-of-the-year honors at both the Division II and III level, Keene State continues to be a premier cross country team nationally and regionally. He has led the Owl men's team to a combined 16 NCAA championship berths, including nine consecutive trips as a Division III member. Five members of the KSC women's cross country team have also earned All-America honors.

Not breaking their stride in 2008, the Keene State men reclaimed the LEC championship - its 10th title in the past 12 years.  Keene State has captured four New England regional crowns (1999-2002), and made ninth straight trip to the NCAAs (1997-2005. The Owl women, who claimed their seventh straight LEC championship last fall, earned the program's first NCAA berth in 2006. Coach Thomas has now produced 46 Keene State cross country All-Americas, including Rob Edson, the 1989 Individual National Champion.

Having earned a reputation as one of the top cross country coaches in Division III, Coach Thomas has now set his sights on developing a well-rounded and competitive track and field program at Keene State. He took a major step in that direction in 2002-03 by directing Mary Proulx and Mark Miller to their fifth and fourth national championships, respectively. Keene State has had a pair of fourth place finishes at the NCAA championship, indoors in 2006 and outdoors in 2008.

Last season, Keene State produced three track All-Americas last year, including Byran Kolacz, the national champion in the hammer throw.

Needless to say, Coach Thomas, a New Ipswich, N.H., native has high hopes for both programs this year.