PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Keene State College men’s cross country team was named the favorite to win the Little East Conference (LEC) championship by the league’s head coaches, racking up 61 points and six first-place votes.
 
The Owls are the defending LEC champions, returning three runners who placed in the top-11 of last year’s conference meet in Tyler Bolaske (fourth, 25:55.17), Griffin Urnezis (fifth, 25:58.82) and Ben Tetu (11th, 26:34.96). Keene State is additionally ranked eighth in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s Preseason East Region Ranking; the Owls are the only LEC program in the top-10.
 
Eastern Connecticut State University was picked to finish second in the LEC this season with 51 points, while UMass Dartmouth and Plymouth State University tied for third with 49 points each - all three programs received one first-place vote in the coaches’ poll. The complete 2025 LEC Men’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll is as follows.
 
Institution - Points (First Place Votes)
1. Keene State - 61 (6)
2. Eastern Connecticut - 51 (1)
T3. UMass Dartmouth - 49 (1)
T3. Plymouth State - 49 (1)
5. Southern Maine - 40
6. Rhode Island College - 25
7. UMass Boston - 20
8. Western Connecticut - 18
9. Vermont State Castleton - 11
 
NOTE: Head coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team.