JOHNSON, Vt. — The Southern Vermont College men's cross country team continued to run well as a squad Saturday as the Mountaineers won the 2015 Johnson State College Invitational to capture their second straight meet title.
SVC junior Justin Ferguson (Broadalbin, N.Y.) carried his stellar momentum from the last two weeks to take his third consecutive race victory, leading the pack with a time of 27:21.9. His split posting of 5:30 per mile on the 8,000 meter course was a total of six seconds faster than what he finished with last week. Sophomore teammate Marc Brandmeyer (Bennington, Vt.) was the runner-up for the second straight meet, finishing at 28:32 to help Southern Vermont top the second-place crew by nine team points.
The Mountaineers placed an additional three runners in the top 10, junior Corey Barcomb (Burlington, Vt.) being next behind Brandmeyer at seventh with a 30:11.8 showing; that was 38 seconds off his time from a week ago. Bennington College freshman Noah Froh (Milwaukee, Wis.) followed at ninth overall for SVC with a time of 30:54.7, and senior captain Cameron Michael Curtiss (Milton, Vt.) rounded out Southern Vermont's top five with a mark of 30:55.6 to grab 10th overall.
SVC junior Aden Fischer (Arlington, Vt.) crossed the line sixth for the Mountaineers at 34:24.3, and freshman Isaiah Backels (Derry, N.H.) posted a new personal record with a 38:18.8 finish, a whole 5:26 faster than his previous best showing.
Next up for the Mountaineers is the Purple Valley Classic hosted by Williams College, taking place at 12:10 p.m. next Saturday, September 26 at Mount Greylock Regional High School.
Southern Vermont
1st – Justin Ferguson: 27:21.9
2nd – Marc Brandmeyer: 28:32
7th – Corey Barcomb: 30:11.8
9th – Noah Froh: 30:54.7
10th – Cameron Michael Curtiss: 30:55.6
23rd – Aden Fischer: 34:24.3
32nd – Isaiah Backels: 38:19.8 (PR)