ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Junior Kevin McBirney (East Bridgewater, Mass.) captured the meet title to lead the Bridgewater State University men's cross country team on Saturday morning at the 9th Annual Wheaton & Babson Season Opener held at the Mark Coogan Cross Country Course in Attleboro.

McBirney, who missed all of last season due to injury, paced the field of 69 runners as he completed the five-kilometer course in a time of 16:10.80.

Sophomore Kyle Ackroyd (Charlestown, R.I.) was the next BSU harrier to cross the finish line as he checked in with a time of 16:46.80 to place sixth overall, while classmate Alexavier Almeida (North Attleboro, Mass.) finished 20th with a time of 17:32.50. Senior Ryan Goldman (Franklin, Mass.) posted a time of 17:51.20 to place 23rd.

McBirney, Ackroyd, Almeida and Goldman all set cross country 5K personal bests.

The Bears placed fourth in the team standings with a score of 83. Co-host Babson College won the meet title with a low score of 47.

Following a weekend off, the BSU men's cross country team will compete at the 50th Annual UMass Dartmouth Invitational on Saturday, September 16th.