COLLEGE MENS PREVIEWS
By Ian Sherlock
Men's College Gold 8k
Kicking off the championship race action will be the Men's College Gold 8k. This stacked field won't disappoint.
Potential individual leaders for Saturday's competition are Villanova University's Josh Phillips and Haftu Strintzos. Phillips placing 2nd with a time of 23:31.3 and Strintzos placing 3rd with a time of 23:33.9 make up the top two returners from last year's meet.
The Villanova teammates will undoubtedly lead the Wildcats for an exciting rematch with the University of North Carolina (UNC). UNC proved victorious last year with a team score of 56, just one point ahead of Villanova's team score of 57.
Other top returning teams in the Men's Gold race are Utah State University, Stony Brook University, and the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Men's College Brown 8k
Jumping back to the gentleman, we have the Men's College Brown 8k.
Keep an eye out for a battle between Mathew Lecky of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Isaac Prather of Concord University. Last year Lecky took the win by 2.5 seconds, running a time of 24:30.2. Prather came just behind in 2nd with a time of 24:32.7.
As for the top returning teams, the list consists of Southern Connecticut State University (1), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2), Amherst College (3), Concord University (4), and Rider University (7).
Men's College White 8k
Nearing the end will be the Men's College White 8k.
Returning to defend his title is John O'Rourke of Catholic University. Last year O'Rourke completed the course in a time of 25:38.9. Right behind him in 2nd place was Noah Griffin of Lebanon Valley College, who ran a time of 25:52.5.
Another close team rematch will ensue between Washington and Lee (last year's winners with a score of 104) and Catholic University (last year's runner-ups with a score of 105).
Other top performing teams competing in Saturday's race are Lebanon Valley College (3), Franklin and Marshall College (8), and Widener (11).