October 29, 1996 Release # S077
Contact: Adam Levin
Sports Information Director
Phone #: (207) 786-6411


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bates Men's Cross Country Wins State Championships; Five Bobcats Earn All-State Honors

LEWISTON, Maine -- The Bates College men's cross country team, ranked third in New England and 25th nationally in the most recent NCAA poll, had three members finish in the top five en route to winning the State of Maine Championship Oct. 5. Those three men, as well as two members of the women's team, that finished third at the state championship, earned All-State honors for their performances.

First-year runner Matt Twiest of Albuquerque, N.M., and junior co-captain Justin Freeman of Franklin, N.H., finished one-two with times of 26:06 and 26:10 over the five-mile course. For Twiest, a high school All-American, it was the second winning race in a four-week collegiate career. The first was in a triangular meet with nationally ranked teams from Tufts and MIT Sept. 21. Freeman, an All-State and All-New England performer the past two years, earned his third second-place finish of the season. He was second to Twiest in the meet with Tufts and MIT and second at the prestigious Codfish Bowl, held in Franklin Park, Mass. At that meet, the Bobcats finished third overall and first among Division III teams.

First-year runner Michael Danahy of South Windsor, Conn., was Bates' third All-State harrier, finishing fifth in the state meet in a time of 27:05.

As a team, the Bobcats finished with 27 points, 17 ahead of second-place Bowdoin, ending the Polar Bears' two-year reign as state champs and taking home their 19th state title and first in four years.

For the women, sophomore Adelia Myrick of Kodiak, Alaska, earned her second straight All-State honors by finishing fourth overall on the 3.1-mile course. An All-New England performer last year, Myrick finished with a time of 19:19. The Bobcats finished with 70 team points, behind Bowdoin and Colby, both of which are ranked in the top 25 nationally.

Twiest is a 1996 graduate of Albuquerque Academy. He is the son of Melvin and Mary Ann Twiest, 9200 Lona Lane Northeast, Albuquerque.

Freeman is a 1994 graduate of the Saint Bani School.Ðhe son of Donavan and Barbara Freeman, Franklin.

Danahy is a 1996 graduate of South Windsor High School. He is the son of Peter and Pamela Danahy, 140 Kent Lane, South Windsor.

MyrickÊis a 1995 graduate of Kodiak High School. She is the daughter of Chris and Betsy Myrick, Kodiak.

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