Information Provided By Stonehill Sports Information


EVANSVILLE, Ind. (September 26, 2009) - The Stonehill College men's cross country team, ranked 12th in this week's U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II poll, placed first out of 11 teams at the University of Southern Indiana Pre-National Cross Country Invitational today. The meet was run on the course which will host the NCAA Division II men's and women's cross country championships in November.

Stonehill won the 11-team event with a 42 team score after placing all seven runners in the top 25 and five in the top 15. 9th-rankeed University of Southern Indiana came in second with a 69 team score, while # 24 Harding University was third (98) and #5 Abilene Christian University fourth (106). Harding sophomore Daniel Kirwa won the individual title with a time of 24:35 over the 8K.

"I knew this was one of the strongest teams we have had at Stonehill and the potential was there," said head coach Karen Boen in her eighth year. "To see the way it all came together today was every coach's dream. This should be a good indication of what could come in the future."

Junior Pat Fullerton (Bradford, Mass./Haverhill), a transfer from Division I Iona College, led Stonehill as he crossed the finish line of the 8K course in 25:24 for a fifth-place finish (out of 99 runners). Fullerton has at least held a share of the lead for the Skyhawks in each of their last three races, including a second-place finish at the Trinity College Invitational two weeks ago.

"Pat was has been a great addition to our team not only talent-wise but he fits into Stonehill like a glove," said Boen. "He is a very low-maintenance student-athlete and it seems like he has been on the team forever the way he has fit right with the other guys."

Junior co-captain Daniel Pilz (Newington, Conn./Newington) followed right behind Fullerton in sixth place with a time of 25:34. Senior Josh Andrews (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) crossed the finish line third for Stonehill and eighth overall in 25:53, and sophomore Stephen Polito (Worcester, Mass./Doherty Memorial) placed tenth (26:05). Junior Benjamin Rumery (Dayton, Maine/Thornton Academy) finished in 26:20 for 13th place to round out the Skyhawks scoring runners.

All seven Stonehill runners posted top 25 finishes on the day. Freshman Ethan Penney (Haverhill, Mass./Haverhill) posted a time of 26:46.33 for 21st overall, while classmate Todd Sather (Melville, N.Y./St. Anthony's) finished 23rd in 26:50.70.

Stonehill is back in action Saturday, October 10, when it participates in the New England Championships at Franklin Park in Dorchester, Mass.