NEW ORLEANS – The Haverford College men's cross country team continued its early-season rise in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) rankings, receiving votes in the Week 2 NCAA Division III National Coaches' Poll while maintaining the No. 1 spot in the Metro Region.

The Fords entered the national conversation following a strong showing at the Main Line Invitational on Sept. 18 at the Fran Rizzo Cross Country Course at Haverford College. Haverford finished third overall and was the top Division III team in the eight-team field, trailing only Division I programs Stony Brook and George Mason. The Fords also finished ahead of Division I La Salle and Division III competitors Swarthmore, Gettysburg, Widener and Muhlenberg.

Senior Owen Bluman led the Scarlet and Black with a seventh-place finish in 19:48.6, earning the distinction as the top Division III finisher in the 128-runner field. Sophomore Simon Lane followed in 12th at 19:59.0, while senior Luke de Valpine placed 19th in 20:06.6. Sophomores Daniel Gordon and Cole Branstrom completed Haverford's scoring five as the group finished separated by just 39.2 seconds.

Bluman's performance also earned him Centennial Conference Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Week honors, the first weekly cross country honor of his career.

Regionally, Haverford remains atop the Metro Region rankings for the second consecutive week after making a five-position jump from No. 6 to No. 1 in the first regular-season rankings. The Fords entered the season ranked sixth in the region before taking over the top position following their season-opening Alumni Race.

Men's Cross Country now turns its attention to one of the largest meets on its regular-season schedule, traveling to Bethlehem, Pa., for the Paul Short Run on Friday, Oct. 2. The meet, hosted by Lehigh University, is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.