Syracuse, N.Y. - Le Moyne freshman distance runner's Mike Purvis (Liverpool, N.Y. / Liverpool) and Mackenzie Ples (Lowville, N.Y. / Lowville) have been named to the 2024 NEC Outdoor Men's and Women's All-Rookie Team, as announced by the Conference Wednesday afternoon.
 
Purvis earns the honor after finishing 8th overall at the NEC Championships in the 3000m Steeplechase with a time of 9:45.47, the best mark by any freshman on the men's side. Ples also earns the honor after finishing 9th overall in the 3000m Steeplechase at the NEC Championships with a time of 12:15.14, the best mark by any freshman on the women's side.

Purvis in his first year with the Dolphins competed in the 3000m Steeplechase, an event in which he saw two top-10 finishes, as well as the 800m, 1500m, and the 5000m. The first Steeplechase event that he competed in was at the St. John Fisher Cardinal Classic (Apr. 27), where he placed 4^th overall with a time of 10:06.53. Two weeks later, Purvis saved his best finish in the 3000m Steeplechase, as the Dolphins went to their first NEC Championships (May 4-5). Mike finished 8^th overall with a time of 9:45.47, a season best, to close out his first year with the Dolphins.
 
Ples in her first year with the Dolphins saw success as well, competing in the 3000m Steeplechase as well as the 800m and the 1500m. Mackenzie's first 3000m Steeplechase event occurred during the second meet of the season at the Geneseo Early Season Invitational (Mar. 29-30). She placed 6^th overall running in a time of 12:24.56. A little under a month later, she was back competing in the Steeplechase at the UB Alumni Invitational (Apr. 20), finishing 6^th overall in a time of 12:28.68. In the final event of the year and her first NEC Championship (May 4-5), Ples competed in the 3000 Steeplechase, running a season-best 12:15.14 and placing 9^th overall.
 
Both Purvis and Ples will be back in action in the Fall for the 2024 Cross Country Season.