By Bobby Ruggiero

Just two weeks after placing second at the Blue Devil Invitational at Central Connecticut University, redshirt freshman Teddy Vrountas finished first this Saturday at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational. Vrountas posted a time of 25:04, beating out a field that consisted of 277 athletes from 38 schools.

“I think he’s just coming into his own as a college runner,” said distance coach Renny Waldron. “Anytime someone is in their second collegiate cross country race ever and they win, it’s a huge deal.”

Behind Vrountas, sophomore Andy Cazeau placed 38th in 25:52 and freshman Sebastian Putzeys placed 39th in 25:54. Waldron said all three runners set personal bests on the day.

Rounding out the top five for the Huskies were senior Bryan Brunelli, who placed 61st in 26:25, and junior Ryan Miling who placed 63rd in 26:27.

As a team, the Husky men placed eighth overall with 202 team points.

The women’s cross country team was also in action this weekend at the same meet. The women ran a split squad Saturday, resting most of their top runners after an impressive showing at the highly competitive Dartmouth Invitational at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire last week.

The women’s squad was led by sophomore Jill Buck, who placed 26th overall in 19 minutes flat. Freshman Kathleen Keen was the second finisher for the Huskies, placing 43rd in 19:28; senior Laura McCloskey (19:58) placed 88th.; sophomore Abby Ochse (20:45) placed 123rd; and fellow sophomore Lindsay Kosinski finished 132nd (20:54).

As a team, the women finished 13th with 391 total team points. Both squads will be back in action Oct. 4 as they travel to Fairfax, Va. for the George Mason Invitational.