Blue Devils Dominant in Sixth Straight NEC Title
Hubbell claims individual title, Blue Devils dominate
The Central Connecticut men's cross country team won its unprecendented sixth straight Northeast Conference Championship on Saturday at Stanley Quarter Park in New Britain. The Blue Devils become the first men's cross country team in league history to win six straight titles, and only the sixth overall program in league history to win at least six straight titles.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Senior Patrick Hubbell won the individual title, giving Central a sweep of both the men's and women's individual champions. Hubbell won with a time of 25:22.58 over the 8K course and he now has won back-to-back meets at Stanley Quarter Park this season.
HUBBELL POST-RACE INTERVIEW
Hubbell becomes the fifth different Blue Devil to win the individual title in the last five years. He joins Ry Sanderson, Sam Alexander, Colbe Delbene and Craig Hunt as the top finishers for CCSU during the six-year stretch of team titles.
The Blue Devils captured first, second, third, fourth and fifth place, giving CCSU a clean sweep of the podium at the championships. Central posted the lowest possible score (15) and set a new Northeast Conference record with its performance.
Junior Matt Walker finished second (25:36.68), junior Tyler Raymond third (25:44.82), sophomore Ryan Hertzog fourth (25:52.39) and freshman Colin Sauter placed fifth (25:57.74) to give the Blue Devils the title. All of these Blue Devils also earned All-Conference honors by finishing inside the top 14.
Sophomore Thomas Lupoli also joined the All-Conference team with a 10th place overall finish. Lupoli finished with a time of 26:34.95.
Hubbell was named the 2014 NEC Men's Cross Country Outstanding Performer with the victory and Sauter was tabbed the 2014 NEC Freshman of the Year as he was the first freshman to cross the finish line in the race.
NEC HISTORY
The Blue Devils join the following programs to win at least six straight NEC titles:
Quinnipiac Women's Cross Country - 8 - 2005-12
Mount St. Mary's Women's Tennis - 7 - 1989-95
Monmouth Men's Tennis - 6 - 1990-95
FDU Men's Golf - 6 - 1990-94 (one year there were two championships contested)
LIU Volleyball - 6 - 2004-09
CCSU Men's Cross Country - 6 - 2009-14