By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The last time the Bridgewater State University men's cross country team won consecutive Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference titles was 2000 and 2001.

On Saturday morning at Stanley Park in Westfield, Mass., the Bears have an opportunity to earn a second straight conference championship.

BSU, winners of three of the last five MASCAC championship races, puts its crown on the line, looking for a 10th overall conference title beginning at 11 a.m.

The Bears had five of the top seven finishers in last year's race in Leominster, Mass., led by winner Kevin McBirney (East Bridgewater, Mass.), and return four of those runners this season.

The last time BSU attempted to defend its title in 2023, the Bears placed second to Westfield State University. Now, BSU has plenty of experience on its side.

"It helps tremendously," said coach Christine Kloiber of having so many returning runners from a title team. "They know what they need to do in terms of executing. They know they have to work together.

"They also know what's at stake. They don't take it for granted. A couple of years ago, they were expected to win and we had some really bad luck that day and they didn't get there.

"They know how much it hurts and know how much it means when they do it. I have a lot of faith in these guys. They're going to put everything out there they have. They're going to make sure the school is proud of them."

In the four meets this season, the top runner has been senior Kyle Ackroyd (Charlestown, R.I.), who was fourth at the MASCACs a year ago with a time of 26:35.08.

Ackroyd was 19th out of 163 runners at the Suffolk Short Course race, 35th out of 253 at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational, 30th out of 277 at the Keene State Invitational and 13th out of 364 at the Connecticut College Invitational.

"Kyle went home (last summer) and we extended his training and the proof is in the pudding," said Kloiber. "He has had a tremendous year, running (well under 26:00). He's light years away from where he was a year ago."

McBirney, a graduate student, was the Bears' second runner in the last three meets.

He finished 18th overall at Connecticut College Invitational in a time of 25:45.95.

"Kevin has been consistent and high-performing just as he always has been," said Kloiber.

The presence of Ackroyd and McBirney provides the Bears with a one-two punch, each capable of winning the conference title.

"They are both capable," said Kloiber. "We're very fortunate to have two runners who are at that top level right now."

Junior Aydan Fournier (Assonet, Mass.) was fifth at the MASCACs last season while senior Mitchell Parent (Cumberland, Maine) took sixth.

Parent was BSU's second finisher in the opening meet this season and has been third in three straight since then.

"Mitchell had a personal best and has come around with some great finishes," said Kloiber. "He's leapfrogging where he was a year ago."

Freshman Tyler Amaral (Dartmouth, Mass.) was the Bears' fourth finisher at Keene State and Connecticut College.

"Tyler Amaral has developed the way we hoped he would and keeps getting stronger,'' said Kloiber.

Also providing depth are junior Brian Vale (Assonet, Mass.), junior Owen Mackenzie (Plainville, Mass.) and junior Nicholas Rodden (Plymouth, Mass.).

"We have quality through and through," said Kloiber. "That's something the guys are proud of and they know the firepower they have behind them. They've all been firing on all cylinders."