Southern Maine, Keene State Look To Defend Respective Titles As Westfield State Hosts 2008 New England Cross Country Alliance Championships Saturday

Buzzards Bay, Mass. --  The University of Southern Maine men and the Keene State College women look to defend their respective crowns on Saturday morning as Westfield State College hosts the 2008 New England Cross Country Alliance Championships at Stanley Park in Westfield, Mass.  The women's 5K race begins at 10:45 a.m. EDT, while the men's 8K championship race follows at 11:30 a.m. EDT.

Southern Maine ended Keene State's nine-year title run in last year's men's championship race at UMass Dartmouth, as the Huskies edged the Owls by seven points to claim the crown.  Westfield State was the top MASCAC squad in the 2007 championship race in third place, while Worcester State and Massachusetts Maritime followed in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Keene State claimed its eighth straight team title on the women's side in last year's event at UMass Dartmouth, winning the match-up of Owls in besting Westfield State by 35 points.  Southern Maine was third in team competition, followed by Bridgewater State and Salem State, respectively, in fourth and fifth place.

Admission to the 2008 New England Cross Country Alliance Championships is free, and complete results and recaps will be available on both races on Saturday afternoon by visiting www.mascac.com. 

Directions to Stanley Park are as follows:  Take the Mass Pike (90) to Exit 3 (Westfield). From the North and South take Hwy 91 to the Mass Pike, then Exit 3. Take a right off of the exit and go South on Hwy 10/202 to the center of Westfield. Go West (Right) on Route 20 (at the CVS) until you reach Lloyd's Hill Road (at the blinking yellow light.) Take a left. continue up the hill until you reach Western Avenue. Turn right on Western Avenue. Stanley Park is a half-mile down the road on the left. Parking is available at the West entrance (second gate).