Gazzelloni, Hussein Receive LEC Weekly Honors

Freshman Yahye Hussein (left) and senior Julian Gazzelloni received Little East Conference weekly awards for their performances at the Bowdoin College Invitational.

GORHAM, Maine -- The Little East Conference announced today that two members of the University of Southern Maine men's cross country team - senior Julian Gazzelloni (Windham, Maine) and freshman Yahye Hussein (Portland, Maine/Deering) - have been selected for weekly honors for the week ending September 27.

            Gazzelloni was named the Runner of the Week while Hussein was picked as the Rookie of the Week.  This is the first weekly citation this season for each athlete.

            Competing at the Bowdoin College Invitational on Saturday, the two helped the Huskies finish third among the 10 teams competing.  Gazzelloni was the Huskies first runner to complete the 8,000-meter course, crossing the finish line in ninth place with a time of 26 minutes, 43.3 seconds.  Hussein was four positions further back in 13th place with his time of 26:52.7.

            Colby College won the meet with 24 points on the strength of a 2-3-4-5-10 finish.  Host Bowdoin, led by individual winner Bridger Tomlin (26:02.4), was runner-up with 37 points.  Both teams were ranked in the top 10 in last week's USTFCCCA regional poll.  USM was third with 59 points.  Colby, Bowdoin and USM combined to take the first 17 places.  Endicott College was fourth with 135 points.

            Southern Maine will be off this weekend.  The Huskies next race will be on October 10 when they compete in the NEICAAA New England Championship at Franklin Park in Boston.