CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- For the second week in a row, a pair of cross country teammates have captured the America East weekly awards. Junior Kelton Cullenberg and senior Corey Conner both had wire-to-wire victories in their season opening meet versus Massachusetts on Saturday, September 8.
In the men's 6k race, Cullenberg (Chesterville, Maine/Mt. Blue High School), raced out to a lead he would not relinquish, as he finished the course in a time of 18:20.54. Cullenberg was one of three Black Bears to finish in the top five, along with Taylor Phillips and Ryan Hardiman, but it was not enough to overtake a well-rounded showing by the Minutemen.
Conner (West Townsend, Mass./North Middlesex Regional) dominated the field on Saturday, posting a time of 17:28.29 in the women's 5k race. Not only did Conner win the race, she finished nearly two and a half minutes ahead of the runner-up from the Minutewomen. After not competing last season, Connor figures to be in contention for her second America East individual title in 2012 after winning in 2009 and finishing third in 2010.
Elsewhere around the conference, the Boston U. men and the Hartford women both opened their season with victories. Seniors Matt Paulson and Robert Gibson claimed first and second as the Terriers won the Bryant Invitational while junior Megan Barry paced the Hawks' victory at the Trinity Invitational with a second place finish.
Cross country action resumes this Friday as five America East teams will be in Durham, N.H. when New Hampshire hosts Albany, Boston U., Maine and Vermont at the Pre-Conference meet. Also competing this weekend is UMBC, which travels to the Navy Invitational on Saturday.