COCKEYSVILLE, Md.-- The University of New Hampshire men and Stony Brook University women took home the 2008 America East Cross Country Championship crowns from Oregon Ridge Park in Maryland Saturday morning. The Wildcats have now won three consecutive titles, while the Seawolves, ranked 22nd in the nation, picked up their second conference trophy in the program's history.
Stony Brook's Tim Hodge claimed the men's individual championship, two second aheads of last year's champion, teammate Alex Felce in 25:29.3 on the 8,000 meter course. Binghamton University's Chris Gaube and Erik Van Ingen finished third and fourth, while New Hampshire's trio of Nicholas Decrescenzo, Matthew O'Connor and Joshua Kearns turned in the fifth, sixth and seventh fastest times. UMBC's Anthony Kelhower, the Wildcats' Benjamin Jenkins and Vermont's Doug Maisey rounded out the top ten and the all-conference performers.
Boston University's Andrea Walkonen completed the 5,000 meter course in 16:48.2, the second fastest time ever in America East Championship history. Walkonen's time was also 34 seconds ahead of second-place Holly Van Dalen of Stony Brook and gave the graduate student her second individual title in as many years. Holly Van Dalen, Stony Brook's Laura Huet, Boston University's Erin Lagasse and Seawolf Lucy Van Dalen rounded out the top five. Stony Brook Hayley Green was the first freshman to cross the finish line, placing sixth, and New Hampshire's Kimberly Povec, Boston University's Sarah Mosser, UMBC's Sara Parkinson and New Hampshire's Erica Jesseman represented the rest of the all-conference team.
The NCAA Regionals are next up for the America East squads. The Northeast regional will be November 15 at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, N.Y., while the Mid-Atlantic race will be in Princeton, N.J. the same day.