FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 29, 2007

2006 Rhode Island College
Men’s Cross Country Season Summary

Providence, RI—Head Coach Kevin Jackson’s team closed out the 2006 season at the NCAA New England Regional Div. III Championships, hosted by Springfield College, on Saturday, Nov. 11 and placed 26^th (45 teams) with a team score of 868.

The Anchormen competed at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Div. III Championships, hosted by Williams, on Saturday, Nov. 4 and placed 29^th (40 teams) with a score of 851.

RIC placed 10^th (13 teams) with a team score of 249 at the Little East/MASCAC Alliance Championships, hosted by Keene State on Saturday, Oct. 28. The Anchormen placed fourth (six teams) among Little East institutions with a team score of 134.

Senior Eric Lonergan (North Kingstown, RI) closed out his career as an Anchorman this fall. Lonergan’s fastest career time was 25:40, tying for the 12^th-fastest time in school history, set at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational this season.

As a senior in 2006, Lonergan earned his second team MVP honor. He placed 81^st at the NCAA N.E. Div. III Championships with a time of 27:35 on Nov. 11. Lonergan became the first RIC runner in school history to place first at the Little East Conference/MASCAC Alliance Championships, taking home the title with a time of 26:44 on Oct. 28. It was the third consecutive season he earned All-Alliance/Little East honors. He placed first with a time of 29:16 vs. Eastern Connecticut on Oct. 14. Lonergan placed first with a time of 26:17 at the Roger Williams Invitational on Oct. 1. He placed first with a time of 26:33 at the Tri-State Championships on Sept. 30. Lonergan placed first with a time of 30:38 at the RIC Invitational on Sept. 23. He placed ninth with a career-best time of 25:40 at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational on Sept. 16.

As a junior in 2005, Lonergan was RIC’s top runner in every meet and named the team’s MVP. He placed 86^th overall with a time of 27:18 at the New England Championships. He earned All-ECAC honors, placing eighth overall with a time of 26:13 at the ECAC Championships. He earned All-Alliance/Little East honors by placing seventh overall with a time of 26:10.67 at the Alliance Championships. He placed first overall with a time of 22:56 (shortened course) at a tri-meet with Mitchell at Eastern Connecticut. He finished first overall with a time of 28:06 at the Roger Williams Invitational. He placed second overall with a time of 27:29 at the Tri-State Invitational. He was second overall with a time of 27:37 at the Ray Dwyer Invitational. He placed 62^nd with a time of 26:42 at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational. He placed third with a time of 17:16 (shortened course) at the Ocean State.

As a sophomore in 2004, he was RIC’s top runner at the New England Championships, placing 125^th with a time of 28:49. He earned All-Alliance/Little East honors, placing 15^th with a season-best time of 26:49 at the Alliance Championships. Lonergan was RIC’s top runner at the Plansky Invitational, (shortened course) placing tied for 28^th with a time of 21:01. He was RIC’s top runner at the RWU Invitational, placing first overall with a time of 28:39. For his efforts, he was named the Little East Conference’s Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week. He was the Anchormen’s top runner at the Ray Dwyer Invitational, placing first with a time of 29:10. He was the Anchormen’s top runner, placing 85^th overall with a time of 27:35, at the UMass-Dartmouth Invitational.

As a freshman in 2003, Lonergan placed 99^th with a time of 28:23 at the New England Division III Championships. He finished 29^th with a time of 28:32 at the Little East Conference/MASCAC Alliance Championships. He placed 192^nd with a time of 27:13 at the New England Open Championships. He was the top RIC runner at the Tri-State Championships, placing second with a season-best time of 27:09. He finished 31^st with a time of 30:34 at the Ray Dwyer Invitational. Lonergan was the top RIC runner at the Ocean State Invitational, placing third with a time of 28:10.  He finished 41^st with a time of 29:37.64 at the Hayseed Classic.

He is an elementary education major with a concentration in general science and a 2003 graduate of North Kingstown High School.

Junior Greg Ahnrud (Chepachet, RI) placed 210^th at the NCAA N.E. Div. III Championships with a time of 30:33 on Nov. 11. He placed 151^st with a time of 29:42 at the ECAC Championships on Nov. 4. Ahnrud placed 63^rd with a time of 30:35 at the Little East/MASCAC Alliance Championships on Oct. 28. He placed third with a time of 30:08 vs. Eastern Connecticut on Oct. 14. Ahnrud placed 14^th with a time of 29:30 at the Roger Williams Invitational on Oct. 1. He placed 18^th with a season-best time of 29:05 at the Tri-State Championships on Sept. 30. Ahnrud placed 22^nd with a time of 33:52 at the Ray Dwyer Invitational on Sept. 23. He placed 129^th with a time of 29:50 at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational on Sept. 16.

Junior Greg Clark (Pawtucket, RI) placed 265^th at the NCAA N.E. Div. III Championships with a time of 33:02 on Nov. 11. He placed 234^th with a time of 32:33 at the ECAC Championships on Nov. 4. Clark placed 104^th with a time of 33:28 at the Little East/MASCAC Alliance Championships on Oct. 28. He placed 12^th with a season-best time of 32:28 vs. Eastern Connecticut on Oct. 14. Clark placed 73^rd with a time of 33:10 at the Roger Williams Invitational on Oct. 1. He placed 74^th with a time of 33:09 at the Tri-State Championships on Sept. 30. Clark placed 69^th with a time of 38:59 at the Ray Dwyer Invitational on Sept. 23. He placed 173^rd with a time of 33:15 at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational on Sept. 16.

Junior Mike Van Gieson (Foster, RI) placed 207^th at the NCAA N.E. Div. III Championships with a season-best time of 30:24 on Nov. 11. He placed 187^th with a time of 30:32 at the ECAC Championships on Nov. 4. Van Gieson placed 89^th with a time of 31:54 at the Little East/MASCAC Alliance Championships on Oct. 28.

Sophomore Bryan Diggle (Scituate, RI) He placed 210^th with a season-best time of 31:16 at the ECAC Championships on Nov. 4. Diggle placed 99^th with a time of 33:01 at the Little East/MASCAC Alliance Championships on Oct. 28. He placed 13^th with a time of 32:50 vs. Eastern Connecticut on Oct. 14. Diggle placed 67^th with a time of 32:50 at the Roger Williams Invitational on Oct. 1. He placed 58^th with a time of 32:10 at the Tri-State Championships on Sept. 30. Diggle placed 65^th with a time of 38:11 at the Ray Dwyer Invitational on Sept. 23. He placed 182^nd with a time of 34:22 at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational on Sept. 16.

Sophomore David Simpson (West Warwick, RI) placed 196^th at the NCAA N.E. Div. III Championships with a season-best time of 30:11 on Nov. 11.

Freshman James Smith (Saunderstown, RI) placed 190^th at the NCAA N.E. Div. III Championships with a time of 30:05 on Nov. 11. He placed 171^st with a time of 29:59 at the ECAC Championships on Nov. 4. Smith placed 87^th with a time of 31:40 at the Little East/MASCAC Alliance Championships on Oct. 28. He placed fourth with a time of 30:34 vs. Eastern Connecticut on Oct. 14. Smith placed 30^th with a time of 30:36 at the Roger Williams Invitational on Oct. 1. He placed 34^th with a time of 30:02 at the Tri-State Championships on Sept. 30. Smith placed 38^th with a time of 34:56 at the Ray Dwyer Invitational on Sept. 23. He placed 126^th with a season-best time of 29:39 at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational on Sept. 16.

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