CCC CHAMPIONHIP: Men’s Cross Country Ready To Shine This Weekend

DIRECTIONS | CCC PREVIEW | VIDEO PREVIEW

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott men's cross country team will compete in the 2015 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championships on Saturday, October 31 at 1 p.m. in Bristol, R.I. The 8,000-meter course at Colt State Park will feature all nine CCC men's teams highlighted by host Roger Williams, who has won the last 14 CCC titles, along with 2014 CCC runner-up Wentworth and Endicott.

NEED TO KNOW: Over the last three races for Endicott, the Gulls have significantly dwindled down the gap time between their top runner and fifth place runner, which will aid the squad in its search to break up a recent string of back-to-back sixth place finishes at the CCC Championships.

Sophomore Zach Marshall (Hinesburg, Vt.) has finished first for Endicott in every race this season to guide the Gulls, while freshmen Austin Landry (Readfield, Maine) and Patrick Finocchiaro (Salem, N.H.) have put together productive first-year campaigns to work their way into the top-3 of the lineup.

Along with the top-3 previously mentioned, sophomore James Dwyer (Berlin, Conn.), junior Noah Mondello (Gloucester, Mass.), and freshmen Brendan Sasse (Westport, Mass.), Ryan Sifuentes (Plainville, Conn.), and Maximillion Young (Weymouth, Mass.) will be looked upon to bolster the backend of the lineup for the Gulls come Saturday.

THE CONTENDERS: Despite losing two of the top three finishers from last year's squad, the Roger Williams will look to defend its current CCC title run again this year. Senior and All-CCC Honoree Chris Busby (4th, 27:33) will lead the way for the Hawks while teammate Ian Fullerton (19th, 28:46) will provide depth for the team.

Leading the way for Wentworth is a trio of sophomores in Dan McSolla (6th, 27:38), Patrick Hopkins (8th, 27:46), and Alex Robbins (10th, 27:52). Two-time CCC Rookie of the Week honoree Jonah Eisman will also look to provide depth for the Leopards this Saturday.

The University of New England will look to finish in the top-three again this year. Leading the way for the Nor'easters are All-CCC Honoree CJ Vallie and junior Paul Mangiafico, both captains, who placed fifth (27:35) and 25th (28:55) respectively at last year's championships. Teammates, and fellow top-25 finisher Jon Zalman (15th, 28:28) and two-time CCC Rookie of the Week Matthew Toussaint will also be crucial to the team's success in the 2015 meet.

HOW TO FOLLOW: Check-in on the Gulls during the CCC Championships by going to their twitter account - @EndicottCC – or www.ecgulls.com or @ecgulls. 

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