GREENVILLE, N.C. – William & Mary men's cross country edged regionally-ranked George Mason and in the process won the ECU Pirate XC Invitational on Friday afternoon at the Lake Kristi Course.
As a team, the Tribe totaled 82 points across its top five runners, finishing just two points ahead of George Mason, who is ranked No. 14 in the latest USTFCCCA Southeast Region poll. In topping the 21-team field, W&M also finished ahead of five CAA rivals in Elon (11th at 346), Campbell (17th at 489), Charleston (18th at 508), Hampton (20th at 621), and UNCW (21st at 647).
Sophomore
Hayes Trapp led the way for the Tribe, placing third in the 215-runner field. He covered the 8K course in a time of 23:45.8.
Sophomore
Brendan DiStefano and senior
Nate Jennings both finished in the top 15, giving the Tribe three runners in that range. DiStefano just missed a top 10, placing 11th in a time of 24:14.8, while Jennings was three spots back in 14th at 24:22.3.
Two rookies rounded out W&M's scoring group.
Carson Rackley placed 26th in a time of 24:39.6, while
Wyatt Townsend was 31st at 24:45.0. More importantly, each redshirt freshman finished ahead of their George Mason counterpart. Rackley was two spots in front of the Patriot's fourth runner and Townsend was one ahead of GMU's fifth, providing the Tribe with a key gap for the team title.
Up Next
The Tribe returns to action at the Panorama Farms XC Invitational in Charlottesville, Va., on Saturday, Oct. 19.
Men's 8K
Team (out of 21)
1. William & Mary 82
2. George Mason 84
3. American 95
4. Charleston Southern 116
5. George Washington 125
Top 5
1. Wesley Bond (GMU) 23:38.9
2. Raphael Kitur (Norfolk State) 23:40.8
3. Hayes Trapp (W&M) 23:45.8
4. Kaden Kluth (American) 23:55.4
5. Jaco Heredia (GW) 23:56.5
W&M Results
11.
Brendan DiStefano 24:14.8
14.
Nate Jennings 24:22.3
26.
Carson Rackley 24:39.6
31.
Wyatt Townsend 24:45.0
40.
Luke Ellwood 24:52.2
41.
Luke Henkel 24:54.5
47.
Eric Fagan 25:00.1
65.
Henry Anderson 25:14.6
88.
Zack Ericksen 25:36.1
91.
Peyton Golden 25:39.0
152.
Quinn Green 26:32.7
162.
Jonathan Kumer 26:47.0
180.
Amberson Bauer 27:16.0
