KINGSTON, R.I. - The Rhody mens cross country team completed their season on Friday at the NCAA Regional Championships at historic Van Cortland Park on Broadway in Riverdale, N.Y.
All five of the runners who were representing Rhody ran their personal best times over the 10,000m (6.2mi) course. Senior James Bloom closed out his cross country career will perhaps the best effort of his collegiate career with a personal best time of 32:58.63, 5:19/mi pace.
Bloom got considerable help from his teammate, Jake Magiera. Magiera ran a stong race and closed on Bloom during the last loop of the course. The two runners ran stride for stride together during the last 1.5 miles. With little more than a half mile to go Magiera ran an excellent downhill to pass Bloom and improve the pace. Bloom responded, caught Magiera and finished the last 600m of the race with an strong kick that moved him ahead of a number of other opponents. Magiera finished 12 seconds behind Bloom in a personal best 33:10.34, 5:21 pace.
"I don't think I could have done that without Jake," said Bloom after the race. "He really pushed me and we both worked the last part of the race together. Really a team effort for both of us."
Freshman Alec Font battled and illness to run his best 10K, 33:35.17. Font was the 29th freshman in the field of 262 runners. He finished his season with top three finishes in every one of his outings this season.
Middle distance standout, Kevin Lochard again proved that he was capable of moving from the 800m on the track to the longer, more grueling distances of cross country. Lochard logged a 34.19.82, 5:32/mi. He looked very strong throughout he race and showed his natural speed with a fine sprint to the finish.
Sophopmore Adam Thies closed out the team scoring with a career-best of 35:29.97, 5:43/mi.
The team placed 32nd in a field of 39 Division I teams in the first Regional appearance in multiple years for the Rhody men's cross country team.
"I believe they earned the right to run in these Regionals," said head coach John Copeland. "They have done a tremendous job this season and I couldn't have been happier with the attitudes, the performances or the character of this team. I am very proud of each and every one of them. I get a huge smile on my face each time I think about what they have accomplished this year."
