Westfield, Mass. — Kevin McBirney of Bridgewater State earned 2024 MASCAC Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Year honors after finishing as the top overall finisher at the conference championship on Saturday. His performance also headlines this year’s All-Conference team. 

 

McBirney, a senior from E. Bridgewater, Mass., found himself as the top individual finisher after covering the 8k course with a time of 26:20.99, five seconds faster than his nearest competitor. Not only did he earn top medalist honors, but he is also the 2024 MASCAC Runner of the Year and an All-Conference honoree while leading the Bears to their second team title in three years.

 

Samuel Edwards of Fitchburg State is the 2024 MASCAC Rookie of the Year. The freshman from Townsend, Mass., crossed the line in eighth with an 8k time of 26:55.80 to earn the accolades as the top finishing first time performer and a spot on the All-Conference squad.

 

After leading Bridgewater State to a first place finish at the meet, Christine Kloiber was named the 2024 BSN Sports Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year for the second straight year. 

 

Joining McBirney and Edwards on the 2024 All-Conference Team is Kyle Ackroyd, Aydan Fournier, Kenneth Goodwin and Mitchell Parent of Bridgewater State, Michael Burns and Taban Manyok of Fitchburg State, Aaron Corlette of Framingham State and Nathan Sylven of Westfield State. 

 

 

Player/Institution Class Hometown

Kevin McBirney, Bridgewater State Senior E. Bridgewater, Mass.

Taban Manyok, Fitchburg State Senior Lynn, Mass.

Nathan Sylven, Westfield State Sophomore Wrentham, Mass. 

Kyle Ackroyd, Bridgewater State Junior Charlestown, RI

Aydan Fournier, Bridgewater State Sophomore Assonet, Mass.

Mitchell Parent, Bridgewater State Junior Cumberland, Maine

Kenneth Goodwin, Bridgewater State Senior Chelmsford, Mass.

Samuel Edwards, Fitchburg State Freshman Townsend, Mass.

Aaron Corlette, Framingham State Freshman Brockton, Mass.

Michael Burns, Fitchburg State Junior Worcester, Mass.

 

 

RUNNER OF THE YEAR

Kevin McBirney, Bridgewater State Senior E. Bridgewater, Mass.

 

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Samuel Edwards, Fitchburg State Freshman Townsend, Mass.

 

BSN SPORTS COACH OF THE YEAR

Christine Kloiber, Bridgewater State