Central Connecticut extended its dynasty in historical fashion winning the NEC Men’s Cross Country Championship for the ninth consecutive year on Saturday afternoon in Stanley Quarter Park in New Britain, CT.  The Blue Devils become the first NEC team in any sport to win nine consecutive titles, erasing the previous record of eight set by Quinnipiac’s women's cross country team from 2005 to 2012. 

CCSU posted a low score of 33 placing five runners in the top-13.  Austin Trainor (Port Jervis, NY/Port Jervis) led the Blue Devil pack as the second overall runner to cross the finish line with a time of 25:54.8.  Three of Trainor’s teammates finished not too far off his pace as Alex Norstrom (Coventry, CT/Coventry), Ryan Hertzog (Hanover, PA/South Western) and Roberto Piotto (Glastonbury, CT/Glastonbury) all came in within 1.1 seconds of each other.  The trio placed five-through-seven with times of 26:15.8, 26:16.7 and 26:16.9 respectively.  Jonathan Gill (Wallingford, CT/Lyman Hall) rounded out the Central top-five and takes home the NEC Freshman of the Year award with a 26:47.1 time that was good for 13^th overall. 

Bryce England (Williamsburg, PA/Williamsburg) closed out his collegiate cross country career winning the individual title by 17.6 seconds with a time of 26:47.1. After finishing sixth at the championships last year, England concludes a dominating season that featured three NEC Player of the Week honors and a Father Bede Invitational win at the same CCSU course.

Sacred Heart finished second in the team race with 53 points as the Pioneers had three runners in the top-10.  Saint Francis U completes the top-three with 59 points, Mount St. Mary’s takes fourth with 103 points while both Bryant and Wagner tie for fifth scoring 142 points.  Fairleigh Dickinson recorded 209 points and St. Francis Brooklyn rounded out the top eight with a 220 total. 

2017 NEC Men's All-Conference Team