At right: Dave Hunt
CUMBERLAND, Maine -- Competing against the top Division III cross country runners in New England, senior Dave Hunt (New Milford) finished among the top 17 percent in a field of 323, but fell short in his bid to qualify for the national championship Saturday at the 2009 NCAA Division III New England Regional qualifier at the Twin Brook Recreation Center.
Attempting to become the first Eastern male to qualify for the national meet since 1976, Hunt was among the leading pack of 30 after one mile, but eventually placed 54th over the 8,000 meter layout. He led a group of six runners for Eastern, which checked in with an impressive 26th-place finish in a field of 48.
Hunt, a first-year transfer from Central Connecticut, was timed in 26:39 in a race won by Williams College's Edgar Kosgey (25:16) of Keyna. All five of Williams' scoring runners finished among the top 15 as they eased to a first-place win over runner-up Amherst College.
The top seven finishers in the race from teams that do not qualify on a team basis gain a spot in the national championship field.
Four of Eastern's six runners are in their first year. Freshman Nick Miller (Norwich) was 130th overall, senior Sam Buczek (Milford) 170th, freshman Tim Callahan (Portland) 195th, senior David Tignonsini (Vernon) 221st and freshman Brad Beausoleil (Plainfield) 245th.
