Men's XC Finishes Seventh at NECC Championship
WESTFIELD, Mass. - For the second straight year, the Southern Vermont College men's cross country team hoisted the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championship trophy as the Mountaineers defended their league title on Saturday, winning the 2015 meet at Stanley Park.
SVC sophomore Marc Brandmeyer 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 claim a new NECC Championship record.
The Mountaineers placed three 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 8,000 meter race as sunshine plastered the course with temperatures hovering around 50 degrees on the day.
Brandmeyer was followed by teammate and junior Justin Ferguson who was second at 26:31. Lesley University senior Ian Barber came through next at 27:48 before a pair of league freshmen battled down the stretch for the ensuing two spots. Regis' Stephen McCall pushed hard to take fourth place with a 28:14 showing, earning himself the NECC Rookie of the Year accolade in the process. Bennington College freshman Noah Froh was right on his heels, rounding out the All-NECC First Team with a time of 28:16 for fifth place.
Elms was led by freshman Keith Brown who crossed the line sixth overall with a 28:25 mark, coming in ahead of a pack that sprinted to top one another into the chute. Southern Vermont junior Corey Barcomb got the best of the three going for the seventh spot, edging out a pair of Pride runners at 28:45.
The next four finishers all hailed from Regis, the first two being freshman Shane Romanchick and senior Jonathan Paul who were neck-and-neck at 28:47 for eighth and ninth, respectively. RC sophomore Sam Mildrum rounded out the All-NECC Second Team, placing 10th with a 29:10 showing.
Conference coaches voted Southern Vermont leader Kathleen 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.
Mitchell College finished seventh out of the eight teams. Axel De Jesus paced the Mariners with a time of 34:02.95 to finish 33rd overall. He was also selected to the NECC All-Sportsmanship Team.
2015 NECC Men's Cross Country Runner of the Year
Marc Brandmeyer (So.) – Southern Vermont College
2015 NECC Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Year
Stephen McCall (Fr.) – Regis College
2015 NECC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year
Kathleen Newton – Southern Vermont College
2015 All-NECC Men's Cross Country First Team
1st – Marc Brandmeyer (So.) Southern Vermont: 26:19
2nd – Justin Ferguson (Jr.) Southern Vermont: 26:31
3rd – Ian Barber (Sr.) Lesley University: 27:48
4th – Stephen McCall (Fr.) Regis College: 28:14
5th – Noah Froh (Fr.) Southern Vermont College: 28:16
2015 All-NECC Men's Cross Country Second Team
6th – Keith Brown (Fr.) Elms College: 28:25
7th – Corey Barcomb (Jr.) Southern Vermont College: 28:45
8th – Shane Romanchick (Fr.) Regis College: 28:47
9th – Jonathan Paul (Fr.) Regis College: 28:47
10th – Sam Mildrum (So.) Regis College: 29:10
2015 NECC Men's Cross Country All-Sportsmanship Team
Brandon Kelm (Fr.) – Daniel Webster College
Adam Zuzdzal (Sr.) – Elms College
Ian Barber (Sr.) – Lesley University
Axel De Jesus (Jr.) – Mitchell College
Chris Beaudoin (Jr.) – Newbury College
Jonathan Paul (Sr.) – Regis College
Cameron Michael Curtiss (Sr.) – Southern Vermont College
Mohamed Mohamed (So.) – Wheelock College