Men's Cross Country Captures Second Straight MASCAC Title

Bu Jim Fenton

WESTFIELD, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University men's cross country team has successfully defended its Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference championship.

The Bears earned their second straight title -- and fourth in the last six seasons -- on Saturday morning at Stanley Park, placing five runners in the top 10.

It is the 10th championship for BSU dating back to 1997 and marks the first time the Bears have won back-to-back crowns since 2000-01.

BSU had 28 points to finish ahead of second-place and host Westfield State, which had 57 points.

Fitchburg State was third (66) followed by Framingham State (101), Worcester State (115) and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy (169).

Senior Kyle Ackroyd (Charlestown, R.I.) placed second and graduate student Kevin McBirney (East Bridgewater, Mass.) was third to lead BSU in the field of 70 runners.

Ackroyd, who was fourth a year ago, finished the eight-kilometer course in 26:01.16, bettering his time of a year ago by nearly 34 seconds. He also placed second as a sophomore in 2023.

McBirney, the 2024 winner, covered the course in 26:06.45, which was 19 seconds faster than his time last year.

Fitchburg State freshman Paulino Guevara Mateo (Cambridge, Mass.) was the winner in 25:06.73, nearly a minute in front of second-place Ackroyd.

Senior Mitchell Parent (Cumberland, Maine) was next for BSU, finishing sixth in a time of 26:42.94, the same position he placed a year ago.

Freshman Tyler Amaral (Dartmouth, Mass.) had a successful MASCAC debut, finishing seventh in 26:50.43) while junior Aydan Fournier (Assonet, Mass.) placed 10th in 27:12.81).

By finishing in the top 10, Ackroyd, McBirney, Parent, Amaral and Fournier earned All-MASCAC honors. McBirney, Ackroyd and Parent have been all-conference runners three times each.

BSU junior Brian Vale (Assonet, Mass.) was the 19th runner to finish with a time of 28:48.17 and freshman Jacob Anuszczyk (Dartmouth, Mass.) came in 24th in 29:06.79.

The other BSU runners were junior Owen Mackenzie (Plainville, Mass.), who was 27th in 29:35.12 and junior Nicholas Rodden (Plymouth, Mass.), who finished 37th in 30:44.05).

The Bears are the first team to win back-to-back MASCAC titles since Fitchburg State in 2017-18.

BSU will travel to Contoocook, N.H., on Saturday, Nov. 15 for the NCAA Division III East Region race at the Hopkinton State Fairgrounds.

Qualifiers would then take part in the NCAA Championships in Spartanburg, S.C., on Nov. 22.