KEENE, N.H. – Battling wet and slick course conditions Saturday, the Southern Vermont College men's cross country team placed third overall at the 2014 Keene State College Invitational.
Three Mountaineers set personal bests on the 8000 meter Keene State course that saw 11 highly competitive teams during the men's race.
SVC senior Herson Canta (Lagunitas, California) was first across the line for the Mountaineers, finishing seventh overall with a time of 27:05. Freshman Marc Brandmeyer (Bennington, Vermont) was next to place for Southern Vermont at 15th with a 27:51 showing, two seconds faster than his previous best.
Sophomore rookie Justin Ferguson (Broadalbin, New York) finished third for SVC at 28:08, and freshman Andrew Brandmeyer (Bennington, Vermont) was next for the team with a time of 29:10. Senior captain Victor Velazquez (South Pasadena, California) rounded out the team's top five, coming through at 30:09.
Mountaineer sophomore Aden Fischer (Arlington, Vermont) was 46 seconds faster than his previous best time, finishing with a new personal record of 33:50. Classmate Patrick O'Toole (West Springfield, Massachusetts) also set a new personal best with a time of 36:28, about 2:30 better than that of his previous PR.
Brandeis University was the overall team champion, seeing four runners place in the top 10 including individual champion and senior Jarrett Harrington (Ipswich, Massachusetts) who crossed the line at 26:33. Keene finished second as a team on its home course, just five points behind the Judges.
The Mountaineers will take next weekend off to recover and prepare for the Western New England University Golden Bear Invitational on Saturday, October 18, an 8K race slated to start at 11:45 a.m.
Southern Vermont College
7th – Herson Canta (27:05)
15th – Marc Brandmeyer (27:51) PR
17th – Justin Ferguson (28:08)
27th – Andrew Brandmeyer (29:10)
42nd – Victor Velazquez (30:09)
45th – Cameron Michael Curtiss (30:13)
58th – Corey Barcomb (31:06)
66th – Hesbon Ogeka (31:52)
83rd – Kenny Poteat (32:31)
102nd – Aden Fischer (33:50) PR
109th – Patrick O'Toole (36:28) PR