Ireland, Kraszewski, Earn NEC Cross Country Weekly Honors
Four Blue Devils honors for effort at Paul Short Invite
Central Connecticut State's Jacob Ireland has been named the Northeast Conference Cross Country Athlete of the Week for the second time in as many races. Michael Kraszewski was named the NEC Cross Country Rookie of the Week. Teammates Brandon Mellitt and James Sullivan joined Ireland as an NEC Prime Performer.
A native of East Hampton, CT, Ireland was the Blue Devils top finisher at the Paul Short Invitational. The Blue Devils ran in the Gold Race, the top tier race of the event, and Ireland was the Blue Devils top finisher in 86th place, out of nearly 400 runners that started in the race. His 8K time of 24:41 was the top time of any NEC runner at the Invitational.
Kraszewski, a native of East Haddam, CT, was the league's top rookie runner at the Paul Short. He was the Blue Devils fifth finisher, running 25:51 in the Gold Race and closed well, moving up 70 spots after the first split of the race.
Sullivan placed 123rd in the Gold Race, with a run of 24:53.88 and Mellitt ran 25:21.5, good for 188th to earn Prime Performer.
The Blue Devils are back in action this weekend, competing at New England's Friday afternoon.