SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Friday saw the Southern Vermont College men's cross country team set personal best times and school records at the Saratoga Invitational hosted by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

A reasonably flat course through Saratoga Spa State Park saw the field enjoy abundant sunshine and temperatures in the high 70s.

Junior Herson Canta (Eagle Rock, Calif.) came through first for the Mountaineers with a time of 28:29.4, putting him seventh on the all-time SVC record book. That time placed him as the 79th runner to finish in the strong 170-participant field that included harriers from St. Lawrence University, R.P.I., and The College of Saint Rose. Canta pushed junior captain Victor Velazquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) down to 10th on the College's top-ten list despite Velazquez also setting a personal record with a time of 29:50.3, placing him at 122nd on the day.

Third for the team was sophomore Cameron Curtiss (Milton, Vt.) who beat his previous best 8K time by almost two minutes as he crossed the line at 31:18.0. Freshman Corey Barcomb (Burlington, Vt.) was fourth for Southern Vermont after completing his first 8K open race with a time of 32:22.4, and following him to round out the team's top-five was junior Hesbon Ogeka (Windom, Minn.) who came through at 32:44.2.

Sophomore Kenneth Poteat (Yonkers, N.Y.) finished next for SVC at 33:12.8, and freshman Patrick O'Toole (West Springfield, Mass.), also competing in his first collegiate 8K, came in with a time of 39:26.7.

St. Lawrence University junior Tyler Baldino (Pittsford, N.Y.) led the Saints to a first-place team finish as he won the race with a time of 25:53.2. R.P.I. and Ithaca College finished second and third, respectively. Southern Vermont came in 15th on the day.

The Mountaineers now prepare for the Vermont State Championship being held next Saturday at Castleton State College.