Senior wins NESCAC cross country title

Michael LeDuc ’14 set a home course record at the 2013 NESCAC Cross Country Championships Saturday to become the first Camel to win the men’s 8k individual title.

Connecticut College hosted the championships at Harkness Memorial State Park on a picture-perfect day. LeDuc, who last spring captured the NCAA Division III track and field title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, posted a time of 24:35 to break the previous course record by 18 seconds.

"Obviously I'm very proud of Mike," Coach Jim Butler said. "To be the first NESCAC Cross Country Champion from Connecticut College is quite the accomplishment and to be a First Team All-NESCAC selection all four years just goes to show you how prepared Mike has himself for the most important meets."

LeDuc, a botany major from Canton, Conn., has earned a number of accolades on and off the track. He is a four-time All-America honoree, won back-to-back New England Division III crowns in the 5,000-meter steeplechase and has been named to the NESCAC All-Academic Team in each of the past three seasons of cross country and track and field. In June, he was named to the Capital One Academic Men's Cross Country/Track & Field First Team in Division III as selected by The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), and was honored as one of the Scholar Athletes of the Year in Division III for the 2013 men's track & field season by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

After his win Saturday, LeDuc was named the 2013 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Men's Cross Country Most Outstanding Performer.

LeDuc and the Camels will compete in the New England Division III Championship Saturday, Nov. 16 at Gorham, Maine. 



November 6, 2013