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LeDuc wins big race at site of upcoming NCAA Div. 3 nationals

Canton's Mike LeDuc (125) of Conn College leads the pack at the recent Hanover Pre-National meet in Indiana. LeDuc won the race.

Canton’s Mike LeDuc (125) of Conn College leads the pack at the recent Hanover Pre-National meet in Indiana. LeDuc won the race. (Photo courtesy Hanover College)

Canton’s Michael LeDuc, an All-American runner at Connecticut College, has been honored as the Division III men’s cross country athlete of the week by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

LeDuc, a senior, finished first at the Hanover Pre-National Invitational with a time of 25:22 over the 8 kilometer course in Hanover, Indiana, to help the Camels place sixth as a team. His winning time was nearly eight seconds faster than Bowdoin’s Coby Horowitz in second place. 

It was an impressive performance on the same course that will be home to the NCAA Division III national championship meet on November 23. 

 

“Mike’s training is going well right now and his race at Hanover reflects where he and I think he should be at this point of the season,” said Jim Butler, Connecticut College’s head cross country coach. “If we can keep him healthy, Saturday’s race portends some good performances in November.” 

 

LeDuc hopes to put a cap on his collegiate cross country career. Last fall, he earned Division III All-American honors by taking 13th at the NCAA Division III national meet in 24:48. It’s the highest individual finish by a Conn College runner in cross country at a national meet. He was also fourth in New England. 

 

The past three years, he has been an All-New England Small College (NESCAC) first team selection in cross country. 

 

LeDuc will be competing in two races here in Connecticut in the next month. On Saturday, Oct. 19, Conn College will host its annual invitational with the men’s race beginning at noon. On Saturday, Nov. 2, Connecticut College will host the NESCAC championship race with the men’s race beginning at 1 p.m. 

 

LeDuc won the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the NCAA Division III track and field championship meet in Wisconsin last May, rallying to win at the ribbon in a school-record time o 8:50.58. He also took 18th in the 5,000 meters at the national meet. LeDuc is a three-time All-American on the steeplechase. 

 

Earlier in the spring, LeDuc defended his New England Division III title in the 5,000 meters at Colby. 

 

In March, LeDuc earned All-America honors for the fourth time in his career at the 2013 NCAA indoor track and field championship, posting a time of 14:31.80 en route to his third place finish.

Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of The Collinsville Press. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 40 years. He was inducted into the New England High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018.

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