Posted: Feb 14, 2019

Blazers Picked Second in Preseason Poll

MARSHFIELD, Mass.- Newbury College tops the 2019 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Men's Track & Field Preseason Coaches Poll, as the NECC enters its first year of sponsorship of outdoor Track & Field. Newbury collected 21 total points, including two first place votes. The Nighthawks are headed up by coach Henry Morales, and will look to returners Andrew Kalombo (Worcester, Mass.), Jarrod Smith (Watertown, N.Y.) and Rory Dobbins (Warwick, R.I.) to be key performers. Kalombo set the school records in the 400-meter dash (52.79) and the javelin (32.80 m) in 2018. Senior Jarrod Smith (Watertown, N.Y.) set a program best in the triple jump at 12.47 meters, while Dobbins holds the school record in discus with a throw of 23.26 meters. In the 2018 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC)/NECC Championship meet in 2018, Newbury finished second amongst NECC teams.

Elms College landed the second spot with 18 points, including one first place vote. The Blazers will be under the direction of first-year head coach Tyler Raymond, and will return school record holder Don Cianciolo (Waterbury, Conn.), whose time of 18.37 in the 110-meter hurdles is a program-best. Elms finished tops among NECC teams in the 2018 GNAC/NECC Championship meet.

Coming in at the third spot is Eastern Nazarene College, who collected 16 points and one first place vote. The Lions, who are entering their first year in the NECC, will also be led by a first-year head coach in Scott Polsgrove. The Lions' program is in its third year of varsity competition, and claimed the fourth spot at the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Invitational last season.

Southern Vermont College captured the fourth slot with 12 points and the remaining first place vote. Jarrett Blankenship enters his second year as head coach of the Mountaineers. Southern Vermont finished third among NECC teams at the 2018 GNAC/NECC Championship meet, and will return Davanté Smith (Ellenville, N.Y.) whose 2:03.55 time in the 800-meter run is second in school history.

Lesley University rounds out the poll in fifth place with eight points. The Lynx are led by head coach Brendan Peltier. Lesley captured finished in fourth place among NECC teams in the 2018 GNAC/NECC Championship meet.

The NECC will once again compete at the GNAC Championship meet, along with the North Atlantic Conference (NAC). The meet will take place on Sunday, April 28, when the first ever NECC men's track & field champion will be crowned.

2019 Men's Track & Field Preseason Coaches' Poll