Men's XC picked sixth in NEC preseason poll
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's cross country team has been picked to finish sixth in the annual Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll that was announced on Thursday.
Central Connecticut was picked to win its ninth-straight NEC title this fall, receiving five of the eight first-place votes. Sacred Heart was slated second with two first-place votes, while Saint Francis U. was picked third with the final first-place vote. Wagner and Mount St. Mary's were both slotted before Bryant, while St. Francis Brooklyn and Fairleigh Dickinson round out the poll.
The Bulldogs will have to replace the loss of three-time All-NEC performer Milan Duka this fall. Bryant does bring back two of its top four finishers from a year ago in Matt McGovern (Long Beach, N.Y.) and Ryan Poholek (North Attleboro, Mass.). McGovern finished 24th and Poholek ran to a 48th-place finish at the NEC Championships last week.
Bryant opens its 2017 season on September 9 when it hosts the annual Shawn M. Nassaney Invitational on campus.