Senior Patrick Fullerton posted the fastest time by a Stonehill runner in seven years at the New England Championships today. (PHOTO BY Richard Orr).

Fullerton posts top ten finish to earn All-New England honors and lead Skyhawks

DORCHESTER, Mass. (October 9, 2010) – Stonehill College, ranked 20^th in this week's U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II national poll and first in the East Region, turned in a 14^th place finish at the New England Championships held at Franklin Park this afternoon.

Senior Patrick Fullerton (Bradford, Mass./Haverhill) earned All-New England honors with his tenth-place finish overall (out of 318 runners overall) – fourth among Division II runners at the event. Fullerton completed the eight-kilometer course in 24:48, marking the fastest time by a Skyhawks runner at the New England Championships since recent Stonehill Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Mario Fraioli finished in 24:38 to place seventh overall in 2003.

Stonehill compiled 419 points to finish 14^th out of 47 programs at the Championships overall – third among Division II teams. Dartmouth College took the team title with 138 points, edging second place Boston University (140 points). The University of Massachusetts Lowell (fourth overall) paced the Division II teams with 191 points, followed by American International College (12^th overall) with 403 points. AIC sophomore Glarius Rop won the individual championship for the second-straight year by completing the course in 24:08.

Junior Stephen Polito (Worcester, Mass./Doherty Memorial) placed 38^th overall (6^th DII) in 25:31 for Stonehill, while senior captain Daniel Pilz (Newington, Conn./Newington) finished 84^th overall (10^th DII) with his time of 26:02. Senior Zachary Lankow (Saugus, Mass./St. John's Prep) posted a 139^th place finish with a time of 26:28.

Stonehill is back in action on Saturday, October 23, when it participates in the Kutztown University Division II Challenge, in Kutztown, Pa., at 11 a.m.