KEENE, NH – The SJC Men's Cross Country team finished ninth with 235 points in the Keene State College Invitational on Saturday afternoon. Eric Friend '11 (Portland, ME/Cheverus) paced the Royal Blue runners with a 29:36 effort and placed 47th in the five mile race.

Dartmouth took eight of the top nine spots individually and collected team honors with 19 points. Jake Shoemaker from Dartmouth won the race with a 26:08 performance.

Jacob Kostik '14 (Durham, ME) was the second SJC runner to cross the finish line toured the course in 31:18, which was good for 65th overall. Sean Caldwell '11 (Marstons Mills, MA) (71st, 31:37), Jeff Letellier '13 (Biddeford, ME) (74th, 33:13) and Andrew Mockler '12 (Saco, ME) (78th, 33:41) rounded out the top five for the Monks. Bryndon Page '14 (Windham, ME) placed 80th with a 34:43 effort.

RPI finished second with 72 team points, a group of unattached runners placed third with 88 points and Keene (94), Fitchburg (156), New England College (170), Wheaton (193), Colby-Sawyer (228) and St. Joe's (235) completed the field of participating teams.

Saint Joseph's will host the Runnin' Monks Invitational next Saturday with the women's race beginning at 11:00 AM and the men to follow at 12:00 PM.