FREEMAN TAKES NESCAC X-COUNTRY TITLE; BOBCATS FINISH THIRD OVERALL
 

LEWISTON, Maine --  Bates College senior Justin Freeman of Andover, N.H., set a course record at the Springbrook Golf Course in Leeds, Maine, winning the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) cross country championships Saturday, Nov. 1.

Freeman, co-captain of the Bobcats, finished the five-mile race in 25:37, topping the previous course record of 25:48, set in 1986 by 1987 Bates graduate John Fitzgerald. In the process, Freeman handed Rob Mitchell of Amherst his first Division III loss of the season. Freeman established a lead at the three and three-quarter mile mark and never looked back, winning the race by 22 seconds. Freeman became the first Bates runner to win the conference crown since Robert Parks '92 won the race in 1991.

Two Bates sophomores also earned All-NESCAC honors. Sophomore Mike Danahy of South Windsor, Conn., placed seventh in 26:31, while classmate Matt Twiest of Albuquerque, N.M., placed 10th in 26:53. It was the second straight All-Conference team for both runners.

Bates' third-place finish was up one spot from the year before and their best since 1994. The Bobcats (76 points, ranked 20th nationally) finished behind four-time defending champion Williams (16 points, ranked sixth) and Tufts (72 points, 14th).

Freeman is a 1994 graduate of the Saint Bani High School. Danahy is a 1996 graduate of South Windsor High School. Twiest is a 1996 graduate of Albuquerque Academy.