HAVERFORD, Pa. – The No. 22 Haverford College men's cross country team turned in a strong showing against a field featuring several Division I and Division II programs Friday afternoon, placing second overall at the Haverford Invitational, held at the Fran Rizzo Cross Country Course at Haverford College.
The Fords totaled 44 points, finishing behind Division I Saint Joseph's (26) while placing ahead of Division II programs Wilmington (73) and Jefferson (82). Haverford also finished ahead of Saint Peter's (155), Centennial Conference foe Ursinus (155), Williamson (203) and Chestnut Hill (227).
Sophomore Wade Garoutte led the way for the Scarlet and Black, placing 12th overall with a time of 20:27.9 over the four-mile course. Garoutte was the top Division III finisher in the field, leading a Haverford contingent that placed three runners among the top 15 overall.
Fellow sophomore Oliver Barr was right behind Garoutte, crossing the line 13th overall in 20:28.0, just one-tenth of a second behind his teammate. First-year Nico Oshunrinade followed closely in 15th with a time of 20:33.6, giving the Fords three runners within six seconds of one another.
Sophomore Will Tew was next across the line for Haverford, placing 21st overall in 21:09.6. Senior Gopal Patel completed the Fords' scoring five immediately behind him in 22nd at 21:10.3. Just 42.4 seconds separated Haverford's first through fifth finishers.
First-year Kieran Berna followed in 23rd overall with a time of 21:11.2, while fellow first-year Malcolm Barry-Kao crossed the line 25th in 21:13.0 to round out Haverford's top seven.
Junior Raine Guidarelli was next for the Scarlet and Black, finishing 26th overall in 21:16.0. Sophomore Gabriel Bernstein placed 33rd in 21:26.5, followed by classmate Liam Deimler in 34th at 21:29.5.
Senior Cullen Worth crossed the line 39th overall in 21:44.6, with sophomore Wyatt Grace following in 40th at 21:46.1. Junior Nicky Elias-Gillette was close behind in 41st with a time of 21:50.8, while first-year Ethan Baloyo finished 45th in 22:00.0.
First-year Gideon Rosinplotz placed 55th in 22:21.6, followed by River Capek in 64th at 22:57.0 and Aaron Groverman in 65th at 22:58.9. Senior Yupei Sun crossed in 68th at 23:08.7, while first-year Eli Coffey followed in 69th at 23:10.2.
Junior Tate Sheehy finished 72nd overall in 23:21.7, with first-year Christian Kim placing 74th in 23:27.1. Sophomore Garrett Miyagawa crossed the line 82nd in 23:59.5, while classmate Ben Aaron rounded out Haverford's finishers in 85th at 24:20.3.
Saint Joseph's captured the team title with 26 points, placing five runners among the top 19 overall to finish ahead of Haverford (44) and Wilmington (73). Unattached runner Mathew Bogdan claimed the individual title in 19:23.7, followed by Villanova's Dan Watcke (19:43.9) and unattached competitor Ronan Luff (19:55.5).
Haverford now turns its attention to the Centennial Conference Championships, which the Fords will host Saturday, Oct. 31, at the Fran Rizzo Cross Country Course at Haverford College. The men's championship race is scheduled to begin at noon, as the nationally ranked Scarlet and Black look to carry their momentum into the conference postseason on their home course.
