Men's Basketball Holds 21st Annual Blue Devil Run

Sophomore Austin Nehls won the 21st Annual Blue Devil run, completing the 3.03-mile course in the areas surrounding campus in a time of 20:21 on Wednesday morning in New Britain. The men's basketball team was joined by members of the men's and women's cross country and women's lacrosse teams in the run. The annual event marks the unofficial start of the 2016-17 men's basketball season. 

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2016-17 CENTRAL CONNECTICUT MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

First-year head coach Donyell Marshall has continued the annual run, started by previous head coach Howie Dickenman, and invited members of the CCSU community to join in the event. The route was a 3.03-mile course around campus and through the neighboring area.

Marshall welcomed the runners participating and thanked them for joining in the annual event. Marshall and assistant coach Mike Witcoskie, along with cross country head coach Eric Blake also ran the course. The race started and finished outside of Kaiser Hall where the teams encouraged each other. Following the run, members of the media had the opportunity to talk with coach Marshall and student-athletes.

Nehls, who placed second in last year's run, turned in a time of 20:21 to edge freshman Chris Williams, who finished in 20:43. Freshman Tyson Batiste finished third (21:03) and was followed by junior Kevin Seymour (22:41) and freshman Antwann Anderson (23:46) to round out the top five.

Sophomore Eric Bowles was sixth (23:53) and followed closely by junior Mustafa Jones (24:07). Senior Khalen Cumberlander finished in 24:38 to place eighth, followed by classmate Tidell Pierre (25:01) and freshman Harrison Kay (25:28). Freshman Donyell Marshall, Jr. finished 11th with a time of 26:37 and classmate Kashaun Hicks (27:34) and senior Tafari Whittingham (36:32) rounded out the runners.

Junior Shakaris Laney was unable to run the course.

Central opens the 2016-17 season at home against Hartford on Friday, November 11.