WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Southern Vermont College men's cross country team is the 2014 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Champion after having an amazing team performance Saturday afternoon at Stanley Park in Westfield, Massachusetts, placing seven runners in the top 10.
The conference title is the first in SVC's program history and just the second for Southern Vermont Cross Country after the women's team captured the 2001 Great Northeast Athletic Conference crown. SVC brings home the cup after sweeping the podium on Saturday.
The 8000 meter race, hosted by Lesley University, was won by SVC freshman Marc Brandmeyer (Bennington, Vt.) who finished with an overall time of 26:29. This marks the first race all season that he has led the Mountaineers, earning the 2014 NECC Men's Cross Country Runner and Rookie of the Year laurels along with an NECC All-Conference First Team placement. His time puts him into second place on the all-time SVC record list, beating his previous personal record by 58 seconds.
Brandmeyer was followed across the finish line by teammate and senior Herson Canta (Lagunitas, California) who was second overall. He finished at 26:38, coming through right ahead of Mountaineer sophomore Justin Ferguson (Broadalbin, New York) who was third overall at 26:48. Both also made their way to the All-NECC First Team with their top-five placements.
Providing valuable points that led to the run-away, freshman Andrew Brandmeyer (Bennington, Vermont) finished sixth and sophomore Corey Barcomb (Burlington, Vermont) rounded out the team's top five at eighth, the two coming in at 28:27 and 28:49, respectively. Those finishes put them on the All-NECC Second Team. Andrew Brandmeyer's time was 30 seconds faster than his previous best, tying him for ninth on the all-time SVC record list. Barcomb's finish was also a new personal best by two seconds.
Also making their way to the All-NECC Second Team was senior captain Victor Velazquez (South Pasadena, California) and junior Cameron Michael Curtiss (Milton, Vermont) who finished at ninth (29:01) and tenth (29:15), respectively. This is the third time in his career that Velasquez has made the All-NECC second squad.
Senior Hesbon Ogeka (Windom, Minnesota) had a great race, coming in at 12th overall with a time of 30:02. He was followed on the SVC side by junior Kenny Poteat (Yonkers, New York) who crossed at 31:35. Sophomore Aden Fischer (Arlington, Vermont) ran a personal-best 33:17, improving upon his previous record of 33:50, and sophomore Patrick O'Toole (West Springfield, Massachusetts) took almost a minute and a half off his previous best for a 35:02 PR.
SVC second-year head coach Kathleen Newton was selected by her peers as the 2014 NECC Coach of the Year following her team's outstanding performance.
Southern Vermont accounted for 20 team points, beating second-place Lesley University by 35. Regis College collected 87 team points to take third at the Championship.
The Mountaineers will return to Stanley Park next Saturday, November 8, for the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship.
PHOTO GALLERY
Southern Vermont College
1st – Marc Brandmeyer (26:29) PR
2nd – Herson Canta (26:38)
3rd – Justin Ferguson (26:48)
6th – Andrew Brandmeyer (28:27) PR
8th – Corey Barcomb (28:49) PR
9th – Victor Velazquez (29:01)
10th – Cameron Michael Curtiss (29:15) tied PR
12th – Hesbon Ogeka (30:02)
18th – Kenny Poteat (31:35)
25th – Aden Fischer (33:17) PR 33:50
28th – Patrick O'Toole (35:02) PR 36:28
2014 NECC Men's Cross Country Runner of the Year
Marc Brandmeyer, Southern Vermont College
2014 NECC Men's Cross Country Rookie Runner of the Year
Marc Brandmeyer, Southern Vermont College
2014 NECC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year
Kathleen Newton, Southern Vermont College
2014 NECC Men's Cross Country Team Sportsmanship Award
Wheelock College
2014 NECC Men's Cross Country First Team All-Conference
Marc Brandmeyer, Southern Vermont College
Herson Canta, Southern Vermont College
Justin Ferguson, Southern Vermont College
Kyle Casiglio, Lesley University
Ian Barber, Lesley University
2014 NECC Men's Cross Country Second Team All-Conference
Andrew Brandmeyer, Southern Vermont College
Sam Mildrum, Regis College
Corey Barcomb, Southern Vermont College
Victor Velazquez, Southern Vermont College
Cameron Curtiss, Southern Vermont