Men's Team Results l Men's Individual Results
Women's Team Results l Women's Individual Results

DALLAS, Pa. – Lebanon Valley's men's and women's cross country teams opened their 2016 campaigns with runner-up finishes at the Misericordia Invitational on Thursday evening, Sept. 1. The unique Thursday night event allowed the Flying Dutchmen to begin the season at their own pace ahead of LVC's annual Dutchmen Invite on Saturday morning, Sept. 10.

Chad Bomgardner was the top finisher on the men's side, earning a fourth-place finish after completing the 5k course in 17:03.54. Kate Mowrey came home fourth in the 4k women's race, the highest finisher among LVC runners.

"A solid day for both teams, finishing second overall behind regionally-ranked Misericordia squads," said LVC head coach James O'Brien '07. "This was a good start knowing that our athletes are running on tired legs. It will also give us a good read heading into our home invitational next weekend."

Nick Scullin (sixth place, 17:14.50), Garrett Santis (eighth place, 17:24.37), and Noah Brady (10th-place, 17:35.80) earned top-10 finishes for the Dutchmen, while Ibsen Powers just narrowly missed joining them in 12th with a time of 17:39.53.

After missing last fall due to injury, Lauren Decker had a solid return to the course. She earned a 7th-place finish after completing the race in 16:45.66. Hannah Kurek (16:54.39) and Hannah Kramlik (17:10.27) posted top-15 finishes and Sarah Grow and Mackenzie Lausch crossed the line back-to-back in 19th and 20th, respectively.

"This was not a focal meet for us but it is important to note some of our freshman that ran well in just their first time in an LVC singlet," said O'Brien. "Kate (Mowrey) did a wonderful job setting the tone up front, running a patient race to put herself in the mix, while Garrett (Santis) ran exceptionally well as our third male."

Kyle Munro (19th) was the sixth Dutchmen to earn a top-20 finish, while Stephen Shelly and Harrison Kelly followed closely behind him in 23rd and 24th, respectively. Rebecca Sitler (22nd), Brittney Kettinger (24th), Samantha Gates (25th), Brittany Rees (33rd), Katrina Zicot (36th), and Katie Hampton (40th) all came home with top-40 times for the women.

Noah Baxter, Michael Gang, Terrence Habiyaremye, Ben Tanner, Josiah Schendel, Nathaniel Clugston, Dustin Shepler, and Daniel College completed LVC's group of competitors on the men's side, while Lillian Zenner, Jeanette Tropp, Janessa Cruz, and Alexa Muffly rounded out the women's runners.

Misericordia, one of the top programs in the region, claimed the team titles in both men's and women's competition. The Cougars Alexander Fitch won the individual title for the men, while MU's Bethany Killmon took home the women's trophy.