CONTOOCOOK, N.H. – Junior Kevin McBirney (East Bridgewater, Mass.) placed 43rd out of field of 229 runners to lead the Bridgewater State University men's cross country team at the 2023 NCAA Division III East Region Cross Country Championships held on Saturday at Hopkinton State Fair Grounds.

McBirney covered the eight-kilometer course in a time of 26:08.28.

Sophomore Kyle Ackroyd (Charlestown, R.I.) placed 63rd with a time of 26:36.70 while classmate Alexavier Almeida (North Attleboro, Mass.) crossed the finish line in 27:20.08 (94th overall) to round out the Bears' top three harriers.

Graduate student Sam Acquaviva (Newburyport, Mass.) of MIT won the individual championship with a time of 24:36.21.

MIT captured the team title while Tufts University and Bates College rounded out the top three teams at the meet. MIT automatically qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships which will take place next Saturday at Big Spring High School in Newville, Pennsylvania.

The Bears finished 15th in the team standings.