MIKE SKELLY
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Senior Mike Skelly was the first Owl across the line in 24th place in a time of 19:41 to lead the Westfield State men’s cross country team to a 10th place finish at the Saratoga Invitational Cross Country meet hosted by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Saratoga Spa State Park on Saturday.
Junior Derik Noland followed Skelly in 34th place in in 19:54.3
Freshman Tim Forrest led in the rest of the Owls scoring runners in a tight bunch placing 76th in 20:49.3, followed by junior Tevin Cintron in 77th in 20:51.1 and Matt Moussamih in 84th in 20:57.2
St. Lawrence University won the race with a team score of 33 points. NYU placed second with host RPI third. The Owls scored 295 points, placing 10th among 21 complete teams. RPI’s Ben Fazio won the overall race in 18:51.5.
The fast and mildly hilly 8K course is mostly a combination of grass, dirt roads and trails well known in running circles. Saratoga Spa State Park, distinguished by its classical architecture and listed as a National Historic Landmark, is noted for its diverse cultural, aesthetic and recreational resources. In addition to the nationally-known Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Spa Little Theater, the National Museum of Dance, the Saratoga Automobile Museum, the Gideon Putnam Resort and Roosevelt Baths and Spa.
