By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University men's cross country team used quality depth to win the 2024 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference championship.

The Bears had five of the top seven finishers in the race, held in Leominster, Mass., with individual champion Kevin McBirney (East Bridgewater, Mass.) leading the way.

BSU, which has won three of the last five MASCAC titles, is the preseason favorite in the conference coaches poll to repeat this fall.

With McBirney, now a graduate student, and three others who placed in the top six all back in 2025, the Bears have plenty of experience to lean on.

"I know our squad is strong and what they're capable of doing,: said coach Christine Kloiber. "I'm really proud of what they do, they support each other and work hard and listen to what we have to give them.

"My confidence in their capabilities is 100 percent rock solid. They know what it's like to win. Having four (of the top six runners in the conference) back is a pretty good place to start."

The Bears begin the season Saturday morning in Attleboro, Mass., taking part in the Suffolk Short Course Classic at the Mark Coogan Cross Country Course.

McBirney, who has another season of eligibility because he sat out 2022 with an injury, was the MASCAC Runner of the Year after finishing first in 26:20.99, winning by five seconds.

"It'd be wonderful to get him higher up in regionals and qualify for nationals," said Kloiber. "It's really tough to do. But those are the last couple of things he hasn't done individually.

"But Kevin would be most proud if the guys came in first in the conference again.

"We've done some different stuff with his training this year. I think we're sitting on something good. This might be a happy surprise."

Senior Kyle Ackroyd (Charlestown, R.I.) was fourth at the MASCACs last season after being the runnerup in 2023.

"Kyle is coming into the season in crazy, great shape," said Kloiber. "He listens. He does the training. He's smart. He's coachable. He has questions and asks them. He's on board and we have a plan how to develop him."

Junior Aydan Fournier (Assonet, Mass.) finished fifth last season.

"Aydan has more raw speed as a middle distance guy," said Kloiber. "He's unassuming. He doesn't seem as intense as the other guys, but when he gets to the starting line, he's going to work as hard as he can."

Senior Mitchell Parent (Cumberland, Maine) was sixth at the MASCAC Championships. BSU also took seventh place, thanks to Kenny Goodwin, who has graduated.

Juniors Brian Vale (Assonet, Mass.) and Nicholas Rodden (Plymouth, Mass.), who was 29th at the MASCACs, also add experience.

"As long as we stay healthy, we're going to be good," said Kloiber. "It's a good squad. They know what they need to do.

"The upperclassmen, everything they have to give to the freshmen and sophomores on the team, they're giving.

"It's really valuable to have that experience. The guys know it. We don't want to take it for granted."

BSU has four meets before traveling to Westfield State for the MASCACs on Nov. 1.