PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Defending Little East Conference (LEC) champion Keene State has been selected as the preseason favorite in the 2026 LEC Men’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll, earning 63 points and seven first-place votes.
With defending LEC champion Keene State leading the preseason poll and just five points separating second through fifth place, the 2026 LEC men’s cross country season is set to feature a competitive race for the conference title.
2026 LEC Men’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Institution – Points (First-Place Votes)
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Keene State – 63 (7)
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UMass Dartmouth – 48 (1)
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Eastern Connecticut – 47 (1)
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Plymouth State – 45
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Southern Maine – 44
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Rhode Island College – 30
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UMass Boston – 20
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Western Connecticut – 14
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Vermont State Castleton – 13
NOTE: Head coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team.
Defending Champion Keene State Tabbed as Team to Beat
Keene State enters the 2026 season as the LEC preseason favorite after capturing the 2025 conference championship and finishing eighth out of 32 teams at the NCAA Regional Championship. The Owls return their top eight finishers from last year’s LEC Championship as they look to defend their conference title and make a push toward the top five in the Northeast Region.
Senior Tyler Bolaske headlines the returning group after posting a personal-best 8K time of 24:24 and qualifying for the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championship. Senior Griffin Urnezis returns after placing second at the 2025 LEC Championship with a personal-best time of 25:16, while junior Nick Terranova finished among the top five at the conference meet. Ben Tetu, Andrew Klinedinst, Jon MacQuarrie and Jacob Plante add further depth to an experienced returning group. The Owls also welcome freshmen Harper Borden and Bryce Fisher, with Borden entering his collegiate career with a 16:15 5K personal best.
UMass Dartmouth Selected Second
UMass Dartmouth was selected second with 48 points and one first-place vote after finishing fifth at the 2025 LEC Championship and 10th at the NCAA Regional Championship. The Corsairs enter the season looking to improve upon both finishes from a year ago.
The Corsairs return Joe Stanton, Colin Ozturk, Jackson Caron, Jack Barbato and Connor Bruni. Stanton owns a 26:20 8K mark, while Ozturk has posted a 15:28 5K and Caron an 8:57 3K. UMass Dartmouth adds Declan Smith, who owns a 25:35 8K time, and 4:15 miler Maurice King. The Corsairs will look to replace 2025 NCAA qualifier Cameron Thompson.
Eastern Connecticut Selected Third
Eastern Connecticut earned 47 points and one first-place vote to place third after finishing fourth at the 2025 LEC Championship and 15th at the NCAA Regional Championship. The Warriors enter the season with an experienced group of returners complemented by several newcomers.
Senior Zach D’Andrea and junior Joey Caruk headline the returning group after both earned Second Team All-LEC honors last season. Eastern Connecticut also welcomes freshman Brayden Dunn, an All-State Class S selection, as the Warriors look to build on last year’s conference and regional finishes.
Plymouth State Returns Strong Core
Plymouth State was selected fourth with 45 points after placing second at the LEC Championship and 13th at the NCAA Regional Championship last season. The Panthers return much of their roster from their conference runner-up finish and enter the season with an experienced group.
Max Goodman, Noah Francis, Cooper O’Neil, Ben Colby, Angelo Deluca and Nate Beaugard highlight the Panthers’ returning group. Plymouth State also welcomes Drew Gilbert as a newcomer while looking to replace Luke Cloutier.
Southern Maine Selected Fifth
Southern Maine earned 44 points to place fifth after finishing third at the LEC Championship and 14th at the NCAA Regional Championship last season. Six of the Huskies’ top eight runners in 2025 were competing in their first year of collegiate cross country, and Southern Maine returns eight of its top 10 runners this fall.
The returning group is led by 2025 LEC Rookie of the Year Harry Dunne, along with Evan Schneider and Cyrus Evans. Conner Smith joins the cross country lineup after placing fourth in the LEC mile/1,500 meters last year and will compete in his first season of collegiate cross country. The Huskies will look to replace All-Conference performer Michael Cyr.
Rhode Island College Rounds Out Projected Tournament Field
Rhode Island College was selected sixth with 30 points after placing sixth at the 2025 LEC Championship. Andrew Frezza headlines the returning group after earning All-LEC cross country honors and winning the LEC outdoor 10,000-meter title. Owen Schenck, an LEC champion in the 800 meters, and Josh Valentine also return for the Anchormen.
RIC welcomes Rhode Island All-Class/All-Division honoree Ben Goodson and All-Division selection Jahmel Rodrigues. The Anchormen will look to Frezza to lead the group while aiming for continued development from their returners and an immediate impact from their newcomers.
UMass Boston, Western Connecticut and Castleton Complete Poll
UMass Boston was selected seventh with 20 points after finishing eighth at last year’s LEC Championship. The Beacons continue to build their program and add Merrimack transfer Albert Fererra, who owns a 14:59 5K time.
Western Connecticut earned 14 points to place eighth after finishing seventh at the 2025 LEC Championship and 23rd at the NCAA Regional Championship. The Wolves enter 2026 with the largest team in program history and a young roster that features seven sophomores or first-years among its 11 members. Sophomores Eddie Dalton, Terrell St. Clair and Alex Neves headline the returning group as WestConn looks to improve its team score and placement.
Vermont State Castleton rounds out the poll in ninth with 13 points. The Spartans expand from one runner in 2025 to eight in 2026, with sophomore Nate Bensen serving as the lone returner. Robby Ragazzo, Andrew Drenga and Zach Taylor lead a group of five new first-year runners as Castleton looks to score as a team throughout the season and build a foundation for the future.