BENNINGTON, Vt. – Southern Vermont College freshman Davante Smith (Ellenville, N.Y.) has been named the New England Collegiate Conference Men’s Cross Country Rookie of the Week for the period ending September 18, 2016 as announced by the league on Monday.

The Mountaineer freshman reeled in the accolade for the first time this season after classmate Bailey Hamilton (Londonderry, N.H.) took it home each of the past two weeks.

Smith had a stellar showing on Saturday for Southern Vermont, placing fourth for the team at the Johnson State Invitational. His split time of 6:09 per mile on the 8k course helped SVC take fifth as a crew in the tough-fielded meet, putting up a total mark of 30:36.

Smith was joined in collecting weekly laurels by junior captain Marc Brandmeyer (Bennington, Vt.) who was named the Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week for the third-straight time this season and the fifth time overall in his collegiate career.

Brandmeyer was first for SVC again on Saturday, placing seventh overall at the tough Johnson Invitational. The junior captain came through with a time of 28:02, matching that which he posted last week, for another split of 5:38 per mile.

Smith, Brandmeyer, and the Mountaineers are next at Williams College’s Purple Valley Classic this Saturday, September 24 for a 12:10 p.m. start time at Mount Greylock Regional High School.

– #LetsGoSVC –