MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — 

United States Coast Guard Academy men's cross country senior Brendan Fant (East Lyme, Conn.) has been named as one of ten "Runners to Watch" by the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference for the upcoming season, as announced in a release by the conference on Wednesday afternoon.

Fant was the Bears' #2 runner throughout his junior season, earning All-NEWMAC and All-Region accolades in the process. He finished 13th in the conference championship meet with a time of 26:12.5, and later ran 25:48.7 to finish 32nd at the NCAA's Division III Mideast Regional. Fant's best performance came at the Connecticut College Invitational, where he trimmed over 50 seconds off of his personal best to run 25:05.7 for 60th place. The time currently stands as the third-fastest in program history. Fant was named a captain for his senior season. 

Fant and the Bears men's cross country team will open their 2026 campaign on September 12th, competing at Trinity College's George Suitor Invite. The race will take place at Wickham Park in Manchester, Connecticut.