Westfield, Mass.— The 2021 MASCAC Men’s Cross Country Second Place Finisher Fitchburg State has been selected by the seven coaches from around the conference as the preseason favorite to take home the team title at this year’s cross country championship. 

The Falcons received three first place votes for 33 points. Last year, Taban Manyok crossed the line first with an 8k time of 26:08 to not only be named MASCAC Runner of the Year but also Rookie of the Year.

Last year’s meet champion Worcester State is second with the final four first place votes for 31 points. In 2021, Daniel Clark came in 40th with a time of 31:23 and is back for the team to seek a repeat at this year’s championship.

Landing in the third spot with 26 points is Bridgewater State. Returning for the 2022 season is Sam Steere. He was the ninth overall runner across the line with an 8k time of 28:02 to earn All-Conference accolades. 

Sitting in fourth is Westfield State with 24 points. During the 2021 championship, Will Buckley came in fifth with a time of 27:19 to grab All-Conference accolades.

Framingham State is picked to finish fifth with 14 points. Patrick Walsh is returning for the Rams after rounding out last year’s All-Conference team. Walsh finished in eighth place with a time of 27:56.

Rounding out this year’s preseason poll is Massachusetts Maritime and MCLA in seventh and eighth with 13 and six points, respectively. Coming back for the Buccaneers is Lukas Janulaitis who crossed the line at the 2021 championship in a time of 30:36. For the Trailblazers, David Babineau is back after during his first MASCAC Championship he finished the race in 31:30.

Over the next few weeks, the seven MASCAC men’s cross country teams will begin their season culminating with the MASCAC Championship on October 29 hosted by Westfield State.