SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Freshman Kevin McBirney (Andover, Mass.) placed fifth out of a field of 113 runners to lead the Bridgewater State University men's cross country team on Saturday at the Western New England Invitational.

The Bears placed fourth overall in the team standings. SUNY Cobleskill captured the team title followed by Roger Williams University in second place and the University of New England in third.

McBirney covered the eight-kilometer course in a time of 27:19.0. Junior Eamonn Sullivan (New Haven, Conn.) of SUNY Cobleskill checked in with a winning time of 26:03.4.

Bridgewater State also had three other runners place in the top 40. Sophomore Sam Steere (West Kingston, Ri.) was the next Bear across the finish line as he checked in with a time of 28:29.6 to place 12th overall. Steere was followed by junior Ryan Goldman (Franklin, Mass.) in 19th place (28:53.5) and freshman Kenny Goodwin (Chelmsford, Mass.) in 37th place (30:12.3).

Following an off weekend, the BSU cross country teams will compete at the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Championships hosted by Fitchburg State University on Saturday, October 30th at the Doyle Conservation Center in Leominster, Massachusetts.