WALTHAM, Mass. - Brandeis University first-year runner Marc Boutin of Westford, Mass., has been named the University Athletic Association (UAA) men's cross country Rookie of the Year.
Boutin was the top first-year finisher at the 2008 UAA men's cross country championships, hosted by Emory University at the Georgia International Horse Park in Atlanta. He finished the 8K course in a time of 26:36.26, good for 19th place overall. Boutin was second on the Brandeis team, behind sophomore Paul Norton of Amherst, Mass., who placed 15th with a time of 26:24.14. Norton missed All-UAA honors by seven seconds. The Judges also had the second rookie finisher in the field in Chris Brown of Chelmsford, Mass., who came in 23rd place in 26:41.77.
With 102 points as a team, Brandeis finished in fourth place behind three nationally-ranked teams (#7 New York Univ., #9 Carnegie Mellon, #12 Emory) and six points ahead of #27-ranked Case Western Reserve. With their impressive finish, the Judges reentered the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division III poll at #31 for the first time since Sep. 10.
Boutin the second-straight UAA men's cross country Rookie of the Year. Sophomore Mekonen Gendebo of Cambridge, Mass., earned the honor in 2007 with a ninth-place finish, but has missed the entire 2008 season due to injury.
Boutin is a 2008 graduate of Westford Academy. He is the son of George and Grace Boutin, Westford, Mass.
Norton is a 2007 graduate of Amherst Regional High School. He is the son of David and Claire Norton, Amherst, Mass.
Brown is a 2008 graduate of Chelmsford High School. He is the son of James and Susan Brown, Chelmsford, Mass.
Gendebo is a 2007 graduate of Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School. He is the son of Weldesenbet and Aberash Gendebo, Cambridge, Mass.
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