2016 Central MA Boys XC Individual & Team Preview

The Central Massachusetts region this Fall will once again be a hotbed of action between top notch teams and individuals. In addition to chasing fast times and taking down rival teams, the Central Mass. runners will also be looking to defend their home turf in late November at the 2016 All-State Meet. Below you will find a rundown on the Top Teams and Top Returners in Central Massachusetts, as well as a full list of Individual Pre-Season Rankings! 

Team 

No one should be surprised to see the boys in red and white rolling at the front this fall. For another year, St. John's should easily walk away with the Central Mass. D1 team title and stake their claim as one of the best teams in the state. The bigger question for the Pioneers will be: can they once and for all capitalize at the All-State Meet? Other than the young men from Lowell, we don't think there has been a more consistent team in the state over the past six years. Since 2010, St. John's has finished no worse than 6th (2014), and their best two finishes were 3rd in 2013 and 2nd last fall. It's not going to be an easy road for St. John's, as Lowell is the perennial favorite and the squads from Wellesley and Lexington are very credible threats. 

The race for top D2 in Central Mass. will be Hopedale's to lose. As of now, no other team will be able to match their strong 1-5 spread. Though, Parker Charter could pose a threat if they find a way to tighten up the gaps between their 3rd and 5th runners. 

Individual 

Ben Kovacs  SR  St. John's HS (D1)

No stranger to stepping up for his team at big season meets, Kovacs enters this fall as the one St John's will look to lead the way. Running primarily as the #2/#3 man in 2015, we saw Ben really come up big at the All-State Meet to help the Pioneers narrowly hold onto 2nd place. That performance makes the St. John's senior one of the top returners in the D1 field this year and big factor in the Pioneer team success this fall. Kovacs had a nice track season and is part of a storied program, so we expect him and his teammates to be well prepared right out the gate. 

Nico Agosta  JR  Parker Charter School (D2)

Agosta will not only embark on journey this fall to be one of the best runners in Central MA, but one of the best D2 runners in the state. The Parker Charter junior strung together some fantastic racing last November, as he was a respectable 3rd at Central MA Champs and then put up the best race of his career by taking 5th at the All-State Meet. Given that result and the graduation of top finishers, Agosta is a serious contender to take home the "W" on November 19th in Gardner. Though the only limiting factor for Agosta might be the lack of racing indoor and limited performances during the outdoor season. Still, Nico should be hungry and ready to flex some serious muscle all fall. 

Kyle Cloutier  SR  Nashoba Regional HS (D1)

This young man from Nashoba should be one to keep a close on this fall. In 2015, Cloutier put up a strong 3rd-place finish at Central MA Champs and took 18th overall at the All-State Meet (2nd from Central MA). Keeping the fast times rolling throughout the track seasons, Cloutier chalked up a nice 9:39 2-Mile PR at the end of this outdoor season. Given his strong progress throughout all of 2015 and being on a very familiar course, Kyle should be eyeing a top-10 finish at the All-State Meet.

Brandon Hall  JR  Hopedale HS  (D2)

Brian Oram  JR  Marlborough HS (D1)

As only a sophomore, Oram had no qualms about rubbing elbows with the big guns last fall. At Gardner for Central MA Champs, Brian grabbed a 6th-place finish running a solid 15:34. A week down the road in Westfield, the Marlborough runner once again found himself in the lead pack and walked away with a 12th-place finish overall at the All-State Meet. On the track, Brian saw some nice success in the mile and mid-distance events, which certainly plays a role on a fast course such as Gardner. While he might not have personal bests that necessarily match up with other top runners in the state, Oram is the 3rd fastest returner in the D1 field and that cannot be overlooked.