CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Five America East cross country teams participated in this weekend's Pre-Conference Meet at New Hampshire and the two individuals champions are also the Performers of the Week. Boston U. junior Rich Peters takes home the honors on the men's side while senior Corey Conner of Maine nabs her second straight weekly award.
Peters (Bristol, England/Brimsham Green School) captured the men's crown by finishing the 8k run in just 25:07.81, more than a full minute ahead of the field. Throughout the race Peters maintained an average mile time of 5:03.4, nearly 13 seconds better than the runner-up. One of four Terrier runners to finish in the top 10, Peters propelled his squad to an easy victory against four other America East squads.
Her second victory in as many weeks, Conner (West Townsend, Mass./North Middlesex Regional) completed the 5k course in 16:31.43. Her closest competitor was nearly 35 seconds behind as Conner continued her trend of comfortable victories. Despite Conner's strong run Vermont grabbed the team crown, as Maine only had one other runner in the top 15. This marks the second time Conner has earned back-to-back Performer of the Week honors and the sixth time she has earned that distinction overall.
Albany, Vermont and host New Hampshire were also at the Pre-Conference Meet over the weekend, with Vermont capturing the women's team crown. Led by senior Kristen Weberg (East Aurora, N.Y./East Aurora), the Catamounts placed four runners in the top 10 to secure a 21-point victory over Albany. On the men's side, the Wildcats placed three in the top 10, led by senior Daniel DeCrescenzo (New Milford, Conn./New Milford), to capture second place in the team standings.
Elsewhere around the conference, Stony Brook held the first annual Wolfie invitational. The men took seventh led by sophomore Eric Speakman (Napier, New Zealand/Taradale), while the women placed fourth thanks to top five finishes by juniors Olivia Burne (Palmerston North, New Zealand/Palmerston North) and Annie Keown (Auckland, New Zealand/Auckland Girls Grammar). UMBC ran in the Navy Invitational with its men taking fifth and the women taking seventh.
Cross country gets back under way this weekend with four teams in action. On Friday, Maine will host New Hampshire and UMBC is at the Towson Invitational. Hartford rounds out the weekend with a trip to the Ted Owen Invitational hosted by Central Connecticut State on Saturday.
2012 America East Cross Country Performers of the Week
Sept. 5 -- Men: Daniel Denis (Stony Brook); Women: Annie Keown (Stony Brook)
Sept. 11 -- Men: Kellen Cullenberg (Maine); Women: Corey Conner (Maine)
Sept. 18 -- Men: Rich Peters (Boston U.); Women: Corey Conner (Maine)