Posted: Aug 28, 2015

Men's Cross Country Tabbed Fourth in NECC Preseason Poll

ATTLEBORO, Mass. - The Elms College men's cross country team was picked fourth in the 2015 New England Collegiate Conference Men's Cross Country Coaches' Preseason Poll, released by the conference Thursday. The Blazers received 44 total points, finishing two points behind Regis College for third-place.

The Blazers men's cross country team finished fourth overall at the 2014 NECC Championship, their best finish since the 2010 season. Elms will be bringing back senior Adam Kudzdal (Chicopee, Mass.), junior Joshua Diaz Rolon (Chicopee, Mass.), and sophomore David Antwi (Kumasi, Ghana), while adding five new faces to the squad.

Southern Vermont College received 59 points including seven out of the eight possible first place votes to earn the top spot.

The Mountaineers will rely on a talented group or returners, highlighted by the 2014 Runner/ Rookie of the Year Marc Brandmeyer. Key contributors for Southern Vermont will be Justin Ferguson, Corey Barcomb, and Cameron Curtiss who finished third, eighth, and tenth respectively at the 2014 NECC Championship.

Lesley ranked second in the polls with 50 total points. The Lynx return senior Ian Barber who finished fifth at the 2014 Championship and was named to the NECC First Team. Finishing in third was Regis College with 46 points, who return with their top runner Sam Mildrum who finished seventh overall at the NECC Championship.

Mitchell received one first place vote and a total of 34 points good for fifth place. Newbury College, who finished sixth in the polls, looks to first year head coach Valerie Sturtevant for successful season.

Closing out the polls are Wheelock College with 16 points and Daniel Webster with 11 points.

2015 NECC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll