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Bridgewater, NJ -- The most decorated coach in NEC Men's and Women's Cross Country history has added another accolade to his collection.
 
Central Connecticut's Eric Blake was named the NEC Men's and Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year by his peers after leading the Blue Devils to a pair of NEC championships on November 1.

On the men’s side, Blake has won the award six times in the last decade, and he has matched that success on the women’s side with six honors in the past eight years. In total, he has collected 11 NEC Coach of the Year awards with the men’s program and six with the women’s team.

CCSU's men's team cruised comfortably to its 13th NEC men's championship, finishing 15 points ahead of Stonehill. The Blue Devils sported the top two finishers in the race and saw three runners placed in the top-10. Mark Rodriguez (Cromwell, CT/Cromwell) finished as the NEC individual champion and Most Outstanding Performer, posting a 25:34.2 time on the 8K course.

The Blue Devils' women's squad claimed their record-breaking ninth NEC crown. CCSU was paced by individual runner up Maegen Desmarais (Thomaston, CT/Thomaston), who clocked a 22:25.6 over 6K. The Blue Devils placed two more runners in the top-10 and won by 16 points over Wagner.

The NEC also announced its men’s and women’s All-Rookie teams. The All-Rookie squads are made up of the top seven rookie finishers.

Stonehill's Luke Allen (Coventry, RI/East Greenwich) was named the NEC Freshman of the Year to highlight the NEC All-Rookie men's team. Allen posted a 13th place finish at the NEC meet with a time of 26:29.3 and helped the Skyhawks earn a second place team finish.

Kaysie Luna (Magnolia, NJ/Sterling) from LIU headlined the NEC All-Rookie women's team. Luna earned NEC Freshman of the Year honors thanks to an 11th place result at the NEC Championship, clocking in at 23:32.6.

The men's and women's All-Conference teams were announced at the completion of the NEC Championship. The teams are comprised of the first 14 runners to cross the finish line at each race.

Along with Rodriguez on the men's side, Wagner's Rylee Ferretti (Staten Island, NY/New Dorp) finished as the NEC women's individual champion and Most Outstanding Performer after crossing the tape in 22:19.5. 

NEC Men’s All-Rookie Team
Luke Allen, STO, Fr. (Freshman of the Year)
Thomas Gaydos, MU, Fr.
Carlos Cheruiyot, SFU, Jr.
Brian Masai, LIU, Fr.
Mario Oliva, CCSU, Fr.
Denis Kirui, CSU, Fr.
Declan Smith, STO, Fr.

NEC Women’s All-Rookie Team
Kaysie Luna, LIU, Fr. (Freshman of the Year)
Isabella Galusha, STO, Fr.
Lillian Tabellione, CCSU, So.
Isabella Jensen, CCSU, So.
Jayden Donnelly, STO, Fr.
Danielle Lynch, NHVN, Fr.
Jaslene Merizalde, WAG, Fr.

NEC Men's All-Conference Team
Mark Rodriguez, CCSU, Sr. (Most Outstanding Performer)
Aidan Budge, CCSU, Sr.
Dylan Brilliant, STO, Jr.
Florian Hinry, WAG, So.
Justin Morris, WAG, Gr.
Mohammed Abunar, NHVN, Sr.
Tyler Cooper, LEM, Jr.
Salvatore Masciarelli, CCSU, Sr.
Walid Jarfani, LIU, Sr.
Nick Davies, STO, Jr.
Chase Lopez, FDU, So.
Robby Levy, LIU, So.
Luke Allen, STO, Fr.
Thomas Gaydos, MU, Fr.

NEC Women's All-Conference Team
Rylee Ferretti, WAG, Jr. (Most Outstanding Performer)
Maegan Desmarais, CCSU, Sr.
Juliana Cancellieri, CCSU, Sr.
Anna Quackenbush, SFU, Jr.
Emily Young, STO, Sr.
Laura Trenado, WAG, Sr.
Rosie Gaydos, SFU, So.
Morgan McNaughton, SFU, Sr.
Caitlin Dugan, MU, So.
Kaylee Gravel, CCSU, Sr.
Kaysie Luna, LIU, Fr.
Isabella Galusha, STO, Fr.
Kellie Harrington, STO, Jr.
Jasmin Gonzalez-Rivera, LEM, So.