USM’s Wheeler named conference’s top runner

Senior Curtis Wheeler of the University of Southern Maine Huskies men’s cross country team has been named the inaugural Little East Conference Runner of the Year.

Wheeler recently qualified to compete in the NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championship after finishing seventh among the 330 finishers at the NCAA Division III New England Regional Championship.

Covering the eight-kilometer course in a time of 25 minutes, 9.5 seconds, Wheeler led the Huskies to the program’s best finish, seventh place, and earned Division III All-New England honors. It is the second straight season that he has qualified for the national championship race. He will compete at the NCAA Division III National Championship on Saturday at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn.