KSC Sports among Top 10 Programs in New England

KEENE, N.H., 4/5/10 - Keene State College is among the top-10 athletic programs in New England and 77th overall (through the winter season), according to the recently released National Association of Collegiate Directors of America’s Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup rankings.

The Owls, who have tallied 138 points, earned their position based on the strength of their women’s swim team that finished 18th at the NCAA Championships. Senior Kristine Trutor (Holden, Mass.) became KSC’s first female All-America with her fourth-place finish in the 100 backstroke race. She also teamed with senior Alea Paddock (Newbury, N.H.), sophomore Jillian Whitaker (Gilford, N.H.), and freshman Kaila Umbarger (Chelmsford, Mass.) to earn All-America with an eighth-place performance in the 200-yard medley relay.

KSC also picked up points at the NCAA Track and Field Championships where juniors Allison Chamberlain (Scarborough, Maine) and Bryan Kolacz (Brentwood, N.H.) earned All-America honors. Chamberlain raced to a second-place finish in the 800-meter race, and Kolacz took sixth in the 35-lb. weight throw event.

Looking to capture its 12th consecutive Division III Directors’ Cup, Williams College leads the standings with 896.75 points.

The Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the NACDA and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution’s finish in up to 18 sports - nine women’s and nine men’s.