Westfield, Mass.— The 2022 MASCAC Men’s Cross Country Champions Bridgewater 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 Bears received five of the first place votes for 34 points. Last year, Braden Boucher took home the 2022 MASCAC Men’s Cross Country Rookie of the Year with a season-best time in the 8k at 27:51 to finish sixth in the race and nab All-Conference honors. 

Last year’s runner-up Westfield State is second with a first place vote and 29 points. In 2022, the Owls had two student-athletes in the top 10. John Nekitopoulos and Brandon Hager were two and three with 8k times of 26:50 and 27:29, respectively.

Landing in the third spot with 26 points is Fitchburg State. Returning for the 2023 season is Michael Burns who earned All-Conference honors after he finished 10th with a time of 28:04.

Sitting in fourth is Worcester State with 23 points. During the 2022 championship, Will Demers crossed the line in a time of 29:53, good enough for 28th.

Framingham State is picked to finish fifth with 16 points. Patrick Walsh is looking for his third straight All-Conference accolade after finishing fifth in a time of 27:48.

Rounding out this year’s preseason poll is Massachusetts Maritime and MCLA in sixth and seventh with 12 and seven points, respectively. Coming back for the Buccaneers is Devyn MacDonald who crossed the line at the 2022 championship in a time of 37:09. For the Trailblazers, David Babineau is back after during the 2022 MASCAC Championship he finished the race in 30:11.

Over the next few weeks, the seven MASCAC men’s cross country teams will begin their season culminating with the MASCAC Championship on October 27 hosted by Worcester State.