Men’s Cross Country picked fifth in NEC preseason poll

SOMERSET, N.J.: The Bryant men's cross country team has been ranked fifth in the Northeast Conference's preseason poll. The results were announced Tuesday.

Wagner is the top pick in the poll, taking eight first place votes. Central Connecticut comes second, receiving the other two first place votes. Mount St. Mary's is third, followed by Saint Francis of PA, Bryant, Sacred Heart, Merrimack, Long Island, Fairleigh Dickinson, and Saint Francis of Brooklyn.

The Bulldogs competed in just two events in the COVID shortened 2020-21 season. They came in first in their lone home meet against Sacred Heart and Merrimack, then finished fourth in the NEC Championships.

Senior Jason Dolan led the way for the Bulldogs in both meets last season, earning All-NEC honors with an 11th place finish at the conference championships. Head coach Mitchell Switzer will be at the helm for his seventh season in Smithfield.

Bryant will kick off their season with the in-person return of the Shawn Nassaney Memorial Invitational on September 11.

Full Preseason Poll

1. Wagner (8)

2. CCSU (2)

3. Mount St. Mary's

4. Saint Francis U

5. Bryant

6. Sacred Heart

7. Merrimack

8. LIU

9. Fairleigh Dickinson

10. St. Francis Brooklyn