WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Freshman Kevin McBirney (Andover, Mass.) placed 15th out of a field of 164 runners to lead the Bridgewater State University men's cross country team at the 25th Annual James Earley Invitational hosted by Westfield State University on Saturday at Stanley Park.

The Bears placed 14th overall in the team standings.  Vassar College captured the team title followed by Trinity College in second place and Springfield College in third.

McBirney covered the eight-kilometer course in a time of 26:26.99. Junior Travis Martin (New Haven, Conn.) of Trinity checked in with the winning time of 25:11.39.

Sophomore Sam Steere  (West Kingston, R.I.) was the next Bear to cross the line. Steere posted a time of 28:08.73 to finish 58th overall. Junior Ryan Goldman (Franklin, Mass.) capped off Bridgewater's top three runners at the meet with a time of 28:38.83. Goldman placed 71st.

Next weekend, the BSU cross country teams will compete at the Western New England Invitational.