PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Little East Conference (LEC) has announced the preseason polls for men's cross country entering the 2025 season and the University of Massachusetts has been selected to finish in a tie for third overall in the field of nine teams.
The Corsairs tied with Plymouth State – both receiving a first place vote with 49 total points. Defending champion, Keene State received 61 total points with six first-place votes, followed by Eastern Connecticut State in second (51 points; one first-place vote).
Last season, the Corsairs competed in seven meets, finishing 14th or better on the season in six of seven events. UMass Dartmouth was fourth or better in four meets, including a victory at the Trinity Invite on September 7. The squad went on to place fourth at the Little East Championships, backed by
Cameron Thompson – who earned sixth overall for All-LEC First Team recognition.
Led by third-year head coach
Ryan O'Connell, the Corsairs return 16 members from last season's squad, including All-Little East First Team selection, Thompson and seniors
Cooper Blatz,
James Christie and
Ethan Sylvia.
At the end of the season, Thompson was named a USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree, while the team earned overall academic honors. The squad also saw five earn LEC All-Academic honors, including
James Carriere,
Jake Paris, Sylvia, Thompson and
Frank Wenner. Both Sylvia and Thompson went on to be named College Sport Communicators Academic All-District honorees.
UMass Dartmouth kicks-off the new campaign on Saturday, August 30 at the Suffolk Invitational, hosted in Attleboro, Mass. The men's race gets underway at 10am, followed by the women's race at 10:45am.
