HAVERFORD, Pa. — The Haverford College men's cross country team opened its 2026 campaign Saturday evening with the annual three-mile Alumni/Open Race at the Fran Rizzo Cross Country Course at Haverford College. A field of 50 runners featuring current Fords, program alumni and open entrants participated in the traditional season-opening event on a beautiful early September afternoon. 

Senior Owen Bluman led the field, winning the race in 14 minutes, 38.1 seconds. Fellow senior Luke de Valpine followed in second place with a time of 14:44.7, while sophomore Simon Lane completed a sweep of the top three positions for the current varsity squad in 14:53.5.

Micah Lachman '26 was the first alumnus across the finish line, placing fourth overall in 14:53.9. Ryan Kredell '23 took fifth in 14:54.8, while Peter LaRochelle '25 finished sixth in 14:55.2.

Sophomore Cole Branstrom gave the Fords four of the first seven finishers, crossing in 15:03.8. Open entrant Bellamy Immanuel placed eighth in 15:11.8 before sophomore Daniel Gordon took ninth in 15:12.1.

The alumni contingent continued its strong showing with Rowan Shigeno '25 placing 10th in 15:13.6 and Seamus Fraser '25 taking 11th in 15:31. Senior Torin Pelton-Flavin followed in 12th at 15:33.1, while first-year Ezra Kleinbaum made an impressive collegiate debut by finishing 13th in 15:33.6.

Haverford placed seven current varsity runners among the top 13 overall finishers on Saturday. Sophomore Oliver Barr was next for the Fords, taking 14th in 15:46.4. Charlie Marquardt '16 followed in 15th with a time of 15:48.3.

First-year Nico Oshunrinade placed 16th in his collegiate debut, clocking a time of 15:51.6. Sophomore Wade Garoutte was 17th in 15:54.1, while first-years Kai Azawa and Luke Crounse finished 18th and 19th in 15:59.6 and 16:00.3, respectively.

Sophomore Gabriel Bernstein completed the course in 16:06 to take 20th, with Evan Daniels '24 following in 21st at 16:07.4. Sophomores Will Tew and Wyatt Grace placed 22nd and 23rd in 16:21 and 16:32.8, respectively.

Seniors Cullen Worth and Gopal Patel finished back-to-back in 24th and 25th, recording times of 16:40.2 and 16:44. Sophomore Liam Deimler followed in 26th with a time of 16:54.5.

Greg Morgan '19 placed 27th in 16:55.4. First-years Kieran Berna, Ethan Baloyo and Gideon Rosinplotz then crossed consecutively in 28th through 30th, separated by less than a second. Berna finished in 17:02.8, Baloyo clocked 17:03.2 and Rosinplotz registered a time of 17:03.7.

Senior Yupei Sun placed 31st in 17:07.1, while first-year River Capek took 32nd in 17:09. Deven Abrams '26 followed in 33rd with a time of 17:11.6.

Junior Nicky Elias-Gillette crossed in 17:17.6. First-year Christian Kim and junior Tate Sheehy finished in 17:40.3 and 17:43.7, respectively. First-year Aaron Groverman clocked an 18:05.3, sophomore Ben Aaron finished in 18:45.2 and sophomore Garrett Miyagawa crossed in 18:58.4.

Additional alumni finishers included Michael Franco '23, James Barker '20, Luca Ponticello '24, Seawon Park '25, Sammy Schindel '24, Nico Tripeny '23, Nick Scardigno '23, Mike Riccio '13, Nick Vechik '10, Neil Adige '09 and Benjamin Siqueiros '12.

Haverford will next return to action Friday, Sept. 18, hosting the Main Line Invitational at the Fran Rizzo Cross Country Course. The men's race is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.