PROVIDENCE, R.I.—The University of Southern Maine men’s cross country team held steady at No. 6 in the latest edition of United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association Division III New England regional poll. Keene State College also remained at No. 9 for the second consecutive week.

The University of Southern Maine has appeared in all three regional rankings on the campaign, debuting at No. 9 in the preseason poll. The Huskies climbed three spots in the Week 1 edition (Sept. 25) and have remained sixth for the second straight week. Senior Curtis Wheeler (Derby, Vt.) has paced the Huskies in all three meets on the season. The two-time Little East Conference Runner of the Week covered the 8-kilometer course in a season-best time of 24:52 at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational on Sept. 15. Southern Maine sports a pair of team championships—the University of New England Invitational and Gordon College’s Pop Crowell Invitational—while placing second at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational.

The Keene State College harriers have also ranked among the regional leaders all season, earning recognition in the previous two polls. The Owls opened the campaign tied for fourth with Amherst College, but slipped five spots to ninth in the Week 1 poll. Head coach Peter Thomas' charges have displayed their depth as two student-athletes have paced the club at meets this season. Junior Jason Garrity was the first Keene State runner to cross the finish line at the Dartmouth and UMass Dartmouth Invitationals, posting a season-low time of 25:41, while freshman Craig MacPherson placed second overall at the Keene State Invitational. The rookie earned the Little East Conference Runner of the Week honors for his performance at the Keene State Invitational on Sept. 29 with a time of 26:25. The two-headed monster of Garrity and MacPherson led the Owls to the team title on their own course.

The USTFCCCA will release its fourth poll of the season on Tuesday, Oct. 9.