First year Will Buckley (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North) was the first Owl to cross the finish line, leading Westfield State to a third-place team finish at the short-course Keene Alumni Invitational meet to start the 2021 cross-country season.

The race was contested over a 5-kilometer distance.

Buckley came home in 16:32 to place ninth individually.   Brandon Hager (Agawam, Mass./Whitman-Hanson) was 11^th 16:43 and Mike Maher (Attleboro, Mass.) 14^th in a time of 17:01 to lead the way for the Owls.

Springfield College topped the team standings, followed by Division 2 Assumption in second.

The Owls will compete at the Trinity Invitational in Hartford, Conn. next Saturday.

Full results will be posted when available.