Click Here for 2023 Men's Championship Recap
Click Here for 2023 Women's Championship Recap

Bridgewater, NJ -- Two highly decorated coaches have been recognized by their NEC cross country peers as the top coaches of the 2023 season.

After leading the Central Connecticut men's program to the 11th NEC title under his tutelage, Eric Blake was awarded the NEC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year award for the ninth time, extending his own conference record. Stonehill's Karen Boen received the NEC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year award for the second consecutive season after guiding the Skyhawks to the program's first-ever conference crown.

Appointed the head coach of the men's program in 2009, Blake has presided over NEC championship teams 11 times in 15 years (2009-2017, 2021, 2023).

At this year's meet in Brookville, NY, CCSU sported the top-two finishers, placed five harriers in the top-ten, and landed five All-NEC honorees. The Blue Devils finished the championship with 19 points to run away from the pack.

Blake boasted the NEC individual champion in James Sullivan, (Redding, CT/Immaculate), who crossed the tape in 25:12.70 with a 7.9 second advantage over teammate and runner-up finisher Samuel Whittaker (Salem, CT/East Lyme) (25:20.60). Placing fourth was NEC Freshman of the Year Aidan Budge (Newtown, CT/Newtown) (25:32.80), one spot ahead of senior Eddie Nicholas (Woodbury, CT/Nonnewaug) (25:36.00). Budge was the top freshman finisher at the meet and one of just two who earned All-NEC honors. Rounding out the top-five finishers for the Blue Devils was senior Yankarlos Diaz (Manchester, CT/Manchester) (25:43.50) in seventh place. 

Boen was a five-time NE10 Coach of the Year and four-time Regional Coach of the Year at the DII level prior to Stonehill elevating its program in 2022.

Boen and the Skyhawks upheld the high bar set in their inaugural NEC championship last season. After finishing second to CCSU via a tiebreaker, in 2022, they took the next step in October when Boen piloted the women's program to the 2023 title, edging the Blue Devils by six points to raise their first NEC trophy.

Stonehill sported three 2023 All-NEC honorees - highlighted by a top-five finisher - and landed three runners in the top ten at the conference meet.

Junior Emma Lawrence (Milford, MA/Milford) was the top performer for Stonehill for the second year in a row, crossing the finish line in 18:47.10 for a fourth place showing. Placing ninth was 2022 NEC Freshman of the Year Jordan Malloy (Colchester, CT/Bacon Academy) (19:08.90), followed by rookie Kellie Harrington (Pittsfield, MA/Pittsfield) in tenth place (19:09.10). 

The 2023 NEC Freshman of the Year for the women was Saint Francis U's Anna Quackenbush (Mount Airy, MD/Linganore), who clocked in at 19:03.20 over the 5K course and was the top rookie finisher. She placed seventh overall.
 
The NEC also announced the men’s and women’s All-Conference & All-Rookie teams. The All-Conference teams are comprised of the first 14 runners to cross the finish line at each NEC Championship race, while the All-Rookie squads are made up of the top seven rookie finishers.
 
NEC Men's All-Conference Team
James Sullivan, CCSU
Samuel Whittaker, CCSU
Dominic Palermo, WC
Aidan Budge, CCSU
Eddie Nicholas, CCSU
Colin Black, STO
Yankarlos Diaz, CCSU
Anthony Bentivegna, WC
Dylan Brilliant, STO
Elyas Ayyoub, LIU
Ryan Dyer, MC
Billy Coakley, MC
Albert Ferreras, MC
Michael Alleva, MC

NEC Women's All-Conference Team
Ava Mahoney, MC
Tesslyn Helms, SFU
Alexandra Smith, LIU
Emma Lawrence, STO
Laura Trenado, WC
Maegan Desmarais, CCSU
Anna Quackenbush, SFU
Angela Kaiser, SHU
Jordan Malloy, STO
Kellie Harrington, STO
Juliana Cancellieri, CCSU
Mya Morabito, CCSU
Morgan McNaughton, SFU
Gia Comerford, WC

NEC Men’s All-Rookie Team
Aidan Budge, CCSU
Dylan Brilliant, STO
Brendan Wilder, STO
Ryan Pereira, STO
Brayton Gazerro, STO
Nicholas Davies, STO
Calvin Young, CCSU    
 
NEC Women’s All-Rookie Team
Anna Quackenbush, SFU
Kellie Harrington, STO
Mya Morabito, CCSU
Sydney Kalil, STO
Grace Del Giorno, SHU
Isabelle Mondo, CCSU
Samantha Apostolico, SHU