Cross Country

BENNINGTON, Vt.- Southern Vermont cross country freshman Nick Murray (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin HS) took home New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Rookie of the Week honors for the second straight week. Murray placed 92nd out of 235 as the Mountaineers' top finisher in the 13th Annual James Early Invitational hosted by Westfield State.

The SVC runner was the first NECC male to cross the finish-line with an 8k time of 29:46.78, marking his career best time. His new career-best time trims almost a minute off of his old time of 30:56.6, posted last week at the Vermont State Championships. Murray's 29:46.78 time helped him finish the day sixth in the NECC. Southern Vermont's score of 545 placed it 18th out of the 21 schools that participated.

"College cross country is a whole different experience than high school," said Murray, who is majoring in Business Management at SVC. "It's a little more intense and more is expected of you. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, and I am really enjoying my first season at SVC."

Murray, a longtime cross country runner, has extensive experience and is looking to hone in on his craft as a Mountaineer. The transition to the small town of Bennington from Hummelstown, Pa., where he was captain of the Lower Dauphin High School cross country team, has been a good one for Murray.

Murray is excited about the "heightened competition" and he sees it as a "good motivation" to improve his performance each meet.

As far as the jump from the 5K he ran in high school compared to the 8K ran at most college meets, "I like a longer distance because there seems to be more strategy and thinking involved then a sheer sprint race," he said.

The Southern Vermont men's and women's cross country teams will be back in action on Saturday, in the NECC Championship at Franklin Park. The times are yet to be announced; check www.svcathletics.com for updates.