STANDISH, Maine – Matyas Csiki-Fejer became the first-ever Suffolk men's cross country male runner to capture the individual crown at the GNAC Championships to pace the Rams to a third-place showing Saturday afternoon at the SJC Course.
Csiki-Fejer claim the individual crown with an SJC course-record time of 26:40, nine seconds faster than the effort posted by James Vance of Johnson & Wales at the 2010 GNAC Championship. The Manchester, Missouri native's performance was just the fifth sub-27:000 time at the SJC course in the last 12 years. The Suffolk sophomore became the first male runner in program history to take home GNAC Runner of the Year status and picked up a first-team all-conference nod as well as he paced the 89-runner field.
Cole Bolduc was the fastest first-year on the course as the Rams rookie came through the finisher's chute in 28:44 not only good for 14th place overall, but GNAC Rookie of the Year honors. Bolduc is the second Suffolk male runner to take home the nod in program history behind Csiki-Fejer who accomplished the feat a year ago.
Hunter Toyoda was seven seconds faster than Bolduc to clinic 12th. Both Bolduc and Toyoda earned spots on the all-conference second squad.
Elijah Dillon and Joseph Robinson placed inside the top 25. The former's time of 29:25 was good for 21st, while the latter crossed the tape two seconds later to land 24th.
Justin Turner (29:38), Nic Malm (29:57) and Ryan Buchanan (30:05) finished one right after another for spots 27 through 29.
Keoni Geers (30:24) and Byron Deily (31:23) competed Suffolk's student-athletes on the course.
Behind its three all-league honorees, the Rams earned third for the second consecutive campaign, which ties the best performance by a blue-and-gold squad at the conference championship. Colby Sawyer took home the title with a team score of 56 with Norwich taking second with 59.
Now, Suffolk looks to make its name known on the regional stage with the NCAA DIII New England Championships set for Saturday, Nov. 16 in Brunswick, Maine.
