CASTLETON, Vt. – The Southern Vermont College men's cross country team wasted no time in making its mark on the 2014 season, placing second at the Castleton State Invitational while seeing two runners place themselves high on the College's all-time record list.
SVC finished just four points behind Colby-Sawyer College for first place as the Chargers had the top two finishers of the meet. Southern Vermont's top two placements were third and fourth on the day, two harriers running fast enough to make their way to the top of Southern Vermont's record book.
Mountaineer senior Herson Canta (Lagunitas, California) was first across the line for SVC, coming in with a time of 26:36 that made him the third overall finisher for the men's 8000 meter race and put him up to second on the all-time SVC record book. Southern Vermont sophomore Justin Ferguson (Broadalbin, New York) was right behind Canta with a fourth-place finish, crossing at 26:46 for the third-best time in SVC history in his first collegiate meet.
SVC freshman Marc Brandmeyer (Bennington, Vermont) also placed well in his first race as a Mountaineer, finishing seventh overall and third for the team at 27:53, putting himself at sixth on the all-time record list for Southern Vermont runners in 8K races. His brother Andrew Brandmeyer (Bennington, Vermont) was next to finish for SVC with a time of 28:57 while junior Cameron Michael Curtiss (Milton, Vermont) rounded out the top five with a 29:15 showing, beating his personal best by 20 seconds.
Colby-Sawyer senior Hayden Brunnell (Barnet, Vermont) was the individual champion of the meet, crossing with a time of 26:02. His brother, Ben Brunnell (Barnet, Vermont), was on his tail to place second at 26:06.
Castleton State finished third overall as a team, paced by junior Ben Girard (Manchester, Mass.) who placed fifth overall with a time of 27:33.
Southern Vermont now looks to its home meet next Saturday, September 13 when the 5K Mountaineer Invitational is slated to begin at 12 p.m.
Southern Vermont College
3rd - Herson Canta: 26:36(PR)
4th - Justin Ferguson: 26:46 (PR)
7th - Marc Brandmeyer: 27:53 (PR)
14th - Andrew Brandmeyer: 28:57 (PR)
20th - Cameron Michael Curtiss: 29:15 (PR)
32nd - Corey Barcomb: 30:44
36th - Victor Velazquez: 31:32
46th - Kenneth Poteat: 33:36
51st - Aden Fischer: 34:36 (PR)
65th - Patrick O'Toole: 38:57 (PR)