RIVERDALE, NY (Nov. 3, 2007) – Graduate student Stephen DeWitt (Ellsworth, ME) placed second and junior Ruben Sanca (Boston, MA) third as UMass Lowell finished second at the NCAA Northeast Region Men’s Cross Country Championship at Van Cortlandt Park.

With the finish, UML qualified for the NCAA Championship Saturday, Nov. 17 in Joplin, MO, for the eighth straight year. 

Four River Hawk runners were named to the NCAA All-Northeast Region Team, led by DeWitt and Sanca, who earned the honor for the third straight year. Senior Joey DeWitt (Ellsworth, ME) was cited for the second straight year, while sophomore Jack Kilcommons (South Boston, MA) enjoyed his first appearance on the All-Northeast team.

Seven UML runners placed in the top 18 places, more than any team. The River Hawks were without their Nos. four and five runners in junior Mark Garcia (Everett, MA) and freshman Jose DePina (Brockton, MA), who sustained a calf injury midweek.

UMass Lowell scored 44 points (2, 3, 8, 15, 16 – 17, 18) and placed second to Stonehill, which scored 40 points (4, 5, 7, 10, 14). Southern Connecticut placed third with 72 points and was followed by New York Institute of Technology (137), Bentley (184) and Adelphi (185).

“We had seven guys in the top 18 places, so considering that, we’re very happy,” said UML coach Gary Gardner. “No one ran poorly. They all ran good races. Stonehill ran really well. You don’t mind losing when you run well and still get beat.”

Stephen DeWitt ran the 10K course in 32:03.4 and placed second only to Evans Kigen of NYIT, who won the individual title in 31:56.9. Sanca was right behind DeWitt with a time of 32:08.1.

Joey DeWitt placed eighth in 32:40.9 while Kilcommons finished 15th in 33:11.0. Junior Jason DeDonato (Nashua, NH) capped UML’s scorers in 16th with a time of 33:24.9.

Sophomore Tim Guerin (Auburn, MA) finished in 17th place in 33:26.9 while freshman Angus MacDonald (Methuen, MA) took 18th in 33:28.6 to round out the UML contingent.

The UML men’s country team, as well as the women’s team which also took second, joins the River Hawk field hockey team in earning NCAA Tournament bids this fall. UML’s men’s and women’s soccer teams are also expected to receive invitations Monday.