Dartmouth could not repeat its championship performance from last season this past weekend at the New England Collegiate Championships but ran well enough to place second in the meet.
Providence College gained the championship team title as well as the first two spots in the individual results.
"We felt we did really well," co-Captain Jack Dwyer '96 said.
Providence is really strong." Dwyer finished first for Dartmouth and third overall running four seconds behind the first place runner, World Championship finalist Mark Carroll of Providence. Dwyer's time was 24:22.
Carroll crossed the line at 24:18, followed by teammate Andy Wedlake just one second later.
"We went down there thinking we could win," Dwyer said. "Some of their [Provdence's] guys are up and down. Their guys were up, though."
Carroll, Wedlake, and Dwyer, along with Providence's David Healy and Brown's Jamie Vetelino, made up the top pack of five for part of the race up until the four mile mark. Vetelino and Healy soon dropped off, however, leaving the other three to contend for the top three spots.
Vetelino came in fourth at 24:32 and Healy followed him at 24:45 for fifth place.
Dartmouth co-Captain Chris Langan '96 also finished in the top ten, placing eighth in exactly 25 minutes. Aaron Schumacher '98 was next for Dartmouth at thirteenth ten seconds later.
Freshman Don Conrad came in two spots behind Schumacher, posting a 25:14 time. Only one other freshman placed above Conrad, Providence's Zack Ventress, who finished eleventh.
Jim Gerhart '98 placed fifth for Dartmouth and 26th overall, running the course in 25:34.
Williams College, a Division III school, finished third overall. This is the highest a Division III school has placed in over 25 years.
"It's suggestive of how we keep improving each meet," Gerhart said. Williams beat Dartmouth earlier in the season. "It gives us confidence for running at Heps and making the NCAAs."
Thirty-two teams finished the race, coming from all over New England to participate. Of New England schools with cross country programs, all schools participated except Harvard, Yale, and Boston College.
"We're excited," Dwyer said. "We're improving from how we were running earlier in the season. We're excited about the chances we have in the next few championships like the Heptagonals and the IC4As."
Next up for the Big Green men will be the Keene State Invitational this Saturday.
