WESTFIELD, Mass. — For the second straight year, Southern Vermont College hoisted the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Men's Cross Country Championship trophies as the Mountaineers took the 2015 title race Saturday at Stanley Park.
SVC sophomore Marc Brandmeyer (Bennington, Vt.) crossed first overall once again to grab his second straight NECC Runner of the Year honor; he came through with a time of 26:19, a mark good enough to be the new NECC Championship record. His time was faster than any he has posted in an 8k this year and was just six seconds off his personal record.
The Mountaineers placed four runners in the top 10 to win the crown with 27 team points, being followed by a Regis College squad that came in second overall with 42 after four members of the Pride finished in the top 10. Elms College rounded out the top three team placements with 91 points.
Conditions were stellar for the 8k as sunshine plastered the course with temperatures hovering around 50 degrees on the day.
"The men winning two years in a row amazing!" declared third-year SVC head coach Kathleen Newton. "They deserve it; they have worked hard all season along with good summer training. We never took it for granted that they could win. Each workout, long run, strength training, and even yoga, was a cumulative progression leading to today. They each stepped up and ran their hearts out with some amazing races."
Brandmeyer was followed by teammate and junior Justin Ferguson (Broadalbin, N.Y.) who was second at 26:31, taking 17 seconds off his mark from last year's NECC race for a new third-best Conference Championship time. Bennington College freshman Noah Froh (Milwaukee, Wis.) took one second off his previous personal best to be next for SVC and fifth overall, the Mountaineer rounding out the All-NECC First Team with a time of 28:16; he became the first Bennington student to receive all-conference honors since the Southern Vermont-BC consortium was established in the summer of 2013.
Southern Vermont junior Corey Barcomb (Burlington, Vt.) got the best of three runners going for the seventh spot, edging out a pair of Regis members near the line at 28:45, four seconds faster than he ran on the same course at last year's NECC meet. Brandmeyer, Ferguson and Barcomb each made their way to all-NECC teams for the second time in their respective careers with their placements. Senior captain Cameron Michael Curtiss (Milton, Vt.) rounded out the Mountaineer's top five, placing 12th overall with a 29:18 showing.
Freshman Isaiah Backels (Derry, N.H.) was next for SVC and 19th overall, taking 2:16 off his previous personal record for a mark of 31:21. Junior Aden Fischer (Arlington, Vt.) also set a new personal record, coming in 20 seconds ahead of his old top showing, and that which he crossed with at last year's NECC race, with a 32:57.
"Corey [Barcomb]'s kick at the end, passing two Regis guys, was incredible," continued Newton. "I'm proud of both teams for the way they performed, but mostly for their dedication and work ethic this season. As I said to them all after the meet, I couldn't be more proud of them. They are a great group of young women and men."
Conference coaches voted Newton as the NECC Coach of the Year once again while each team selected one of its members to the inaugural NECC All-Sportsmanship Team, Curtiss being the representative from SVC.
Southern Vermont now prepares itself for next Saturday's (Nov. 7) Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Championship, an 8k slated to start at 11 a.m. at Mount Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown, Mass.
Southern Vermont
1st – Marc Brandmeyer: 26:19
2nd – Justin Ferguson: 26:31
5th – Noah Froh: 28:16 (PR)
7th – Corey Barcomb: 28:45
12th – Cameron Michael Curtiss: 29:18
19th – Isaiah Backels: 31:21 (PR)
27th – Aden Fischer: 32:57 (PR)