Eric Blake Named NEC Men's XC Coach Of The Year
Head Coach Eric Blake was named the 2014 Men's Cross Country NEC Coach of the Year after leading his team to a sixth-straight NEC Championship this season.
Head Coach Eric Blake of the Central Connecticut men's and women's cross country and track programs was named the 2014 Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year, the league announced Monday afternoon. This marks Blake's fourth NEC Cross Country Coach of the Year honor in his career. He previously won the award in 2009, 2010 and 2012.
Blake, who is in his sixth season at the helm of the men's cross country program, coached the Blue Devils to their sixth consecutive Northeast Conference Championship this season. With the victory, the Blue Devils became the first men's cross country team in league history to win six straight titles, and only the sixth overall program in league history to win at least six straight titles.
Blake fielded six all-conference performers at the championships, and coached his team to a perfect score of 15, sweeping the top five spots and setting a new NEC record.
CCSU senior Patrick Hubbell earned the individual title, making him the fifth Blue Devil in as many years to receive the honor. Hubbell ran the 8K course in a time of 25:22.58.
Four Blue Devils, Matt Walker, Tyler Raymond, Ryan Hertzog and Colin Sauter followed close behind. Sauter was the first freshman to cross the threshold, and earned Freshman of the Year honors with a time of 25:57.39. The top-five CCSU runners cleared the 26 minute mark and the Blue Devils placed six runners in the top-10.
The Blue Devils most recently finished 17th at the NCAA Northeast Regionals on Nov. 14, and took 11th at the IC4A Championships on Nov. 22. Both races were held at Van Cortlandt Park in the Brox, NY.
Blake's men's team finished the 2014 season with four top-five finishes, including three overall victories. They went undefeated on their home course, Stanley Quarter Park, winning the Ted Owen Invitational and then the CCSU Mini Meet before capturing their sixth-straight NEC Championship on Nov. 1.