Men's Cross Country Picked to Finish First in the Northeast Conference

In a poll of the league's head coaches, the Central Connecticut State University men's cross country team was picked to defend its 2009 NEC title. The Blue Devils received 10 of a possible 11 first place votes to earn the top spot, up seven places from a year ago when they were picked eighth. Head Coach Eric Blake, who recently was named to lead the women's program at CCSU, was named the Coach of the Year last season following his team's performance.

OFFICIAL NEC RELEASE

Blake and the Blue Devils stand poised to continue their championship reign with a blend of youth and depth. Blake boasts all three returning top-10 finishers from last fall, including team leader Sam Alexander. The junior placed fourth in 26:23 over the 8K course en-route to All-Conference status, a significant improvement from his 21st place showing in 2008. Indicators of Alexander's speed showed early in the season as he secured third at the Quinnipiac Invitational and won NEC Athlete of the Week honors after his first collegiate individual victory at the Blue Devil Invitational.

Following close behind the lead runner from CCSU at the NEC meet were a pair of top-10 harriers - junior Jeremy Schmid and sophomore Craig Hunt - who crossed the tape in sixth (26:38) and seventh (26:39), respectively. Hunt's rookie campaign started off with a fifth place finish at the Blue Devil Invitational and second place spot at the CCSU Mini Meet, catapulting him to NEC Rookie of the Week distinction.

Classmate Mohamed Hrezi did his part for the Blue and White as a freshman, claiming an All-Conference nod after crossing the tape in 26:59 for a 13th place finish at the league championship. In addition, senior Ry Sanderson comes back from a 3rd place showing at the 2008 NEC meet after redshirting the 2009 cross country season.