UM Dartmouth Invitational 9/15/07

WOMEN:  
MEN:
The Worcester State College men’s cross country team put forth a “breakthrough” effort on at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational.  In a field of over 30 full teams, including some of the top New England division II and III programs, the Lancer men finished in 11^th place. They were just two points from breaking into the top ten.  With the city meet “waiting in the wings” next Saturday at Moore State Park in Paxton, this week’s close contest sets up the makings a competitive battle for the City Meet title. The Worcester State top seven was as impressive as any team in recent history. Among the present top seven, are six runners from area high schools that gives the team a particularly local flavor.  The Lancer’s number one runner for the second week in a row and last week’s MASCAC “Runner of the Week”, was junior Forest Wilber (Worcester, MA/Quabbin HS).  Forest finished an impressive 6^th place overall of 225 finishers in an elite group of runners covering the rain soaked five mile course in a time of 25:17.  Former Doherty (Worcester, MA) harrier Rob Lind, a junior, was the second Lancer, finishing 40^th overall in a time of 26:21. His time was almost a minute faster than last year on the course.  Just behind Lind, was former Burncoat (Worcester, MA) standout Adam Malek, a sophomore, in 50^th place and fourteen seconds back (26:35). His time bettered his 2006 finish by over a minute and a half.  Freshman Stephen Gemme (Worcester, MA/St John’s) had a stellar race as he moved up from the seventh spot on the squad last week to fourth finishing 116^th overall in 28:26. The only non local in the top five was junior Chris Mancuso (Rowley, MA/Triton HS) who finished in 119^th place (28:30) just behind Gemme.  Junior Andrew Rossi, however, was the sixth man in, and once again, a local guy from Shrewsbury (Shrewsbury HS). Rossi finished in 134^th place (28:54) after running most the race with Mancuso and Gemme. Others from the immediate area include Senior Justin Snair (Worcester, MA-Doherty HS) who is expected to be among the top seven before too long as he continues to get “back in shape” after an extended period of time off.  Also, junior Derrick Willand (Leicester, MA) had a solid race improving greatly from last year, running one of his strongest races as a Lancer.  This is truly an exciting year in cross country for The Worcester State men.  If they continue to show the strength and depth they have shown in the first two contests, they will certainly contend for the MASCAC title in late October.