GORHAM, Maine – The University of Southern Maine Huskies' men's cross country team has placed fifth in the 2025 Little East Conference Preseason Coaches' Pool with 40 points. Keene State was named the conference favorite with 61 points and six first-place votes. Second place went to Eastern Connecticut with 51 points and a first-place vote. Two teams, UMass Dartmouth and Plymouth State, tied for third with 49 points and one first-place vote apiece. 
 
The Huskies return four of their top seven runners from last season's conference championship meet led by senior Michael Cyr (Caribou, Maine). Cyr set a personal-best in the 8k with a time of 26:44.7 to place 15th overall, one spot away from all-conference honors. Junior Cyrus Evans (Farmington, Maine/Mt. Blue) also finished in the top 30 by placing 26th with a personal best time of 27:04.9. Evans and Cyr also cracked the top 100 at the NCAA Division III East Regional Championships by placing 82nd and 96th.
 
Junior Kyle Hartford (South Portland, Maine) and senior Camden Bessey (Westbrook, Maine) also were part of the team's lineup last season and placed 43rd and 73rd at the conference championship.
 
The Huskies and fourth-year head coach Rob Whitten begin the season on September 6 at the Ron Ouellette Invitational hosted by the University of New England.
 

2025 Little East Conference Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll (FPV)
1.	Keene State	61 points	6
2.	Eastern Connecticut	51 points	1
T3.	UMass Dartmouth	49 points	1
T3.	Plymouth State	49 points	1
5.	Southern Maine	40 points
6.	Rhode Island College	25 points
7.	UMass Boston	20 points
8.	Western Connecticut	18 points
9.	VTSU-Castleton	11 points