Waterford, Conn. – The University of Lynchburg men's and women's cross country teams faced stellar Division III opponents throughout the weekend at the Connecticut College Invite and Roanoke XC Invitational, solidifying top-ten finishes in the first split-squad endeavor of the season.

Based on national rankings, both teams trailed Washington & Lee entering the weekend for second in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Saturday's races marked the final regular-season meets for Lynchburg this season.

Connecticut College Invite – Waterford, Conn.

10 athletes for the Lynchburg men's team competed in Connecticut, including eight in the men's 8k blue invitational race. The Hornets entered Saturday as the 19th-ranked team in the nation and competed against 11 other ranked programs, placing 10th in the team standings.

Alex Paciello led the charge with a 24:55 personal-best finish for 46th. The sophomore cut 35 seconds from his most recent 25:30 performance at the Paul Short Run. 

Aidan Riggle also set a new PR for 50th place, dipping under the 25-minute mark for the first time with a 24:57.52 performance. Alex Jordan finished close behind in 24:57.52 for 53rd in the field.

Johnathan Cobb crossed the line in 25:10.08 for 68th place, while Randy White improved 21 spots throughout the race to close the scoring with a 25:28.17 result for 96th. The top-five Lynchburg finishers boasted a spread of just 33 seconds and an average time of 25:06.

To begin the morning, Dylan McGraw clocked 25:24.8 for seventh place in the men's 8k white race, while Mercer Alden earned a personal best with a 25:57.2 performance for 28th. The pair competed in the open race, which featured over 350 athletes.

Roanoke XC Invitational – Salem, Va.

The Lynchburg women's team competed at Green Hill Park in a 6k preview of the 2025 NCAA South Region Championships course. Of the 20 teams competing, Lynchburg earned fifth place with 109 points and placed five finishers inside the top 35.

Adelynn Carpenter cruised to a sixth-place finish, clocking 22:05.5 despite running without a pack for the final two kilometers. The sophomore was the third finisher that contributed to the team standings, maintaining her position for the final 5k of the race.

Mya Baker placed 29th with a 23:37.5 performance, just eight seconds away from a personal best. Delaney Saulsbury (23:44.6) and Georgie Lanham (23:50.2) finished in quick succession, placing 32nd and 34th, respectively. Jordan DiRisio capped the Hornets' scoring with a 23:54.1 finish for 38th place.

While the majority of the Lynchburg men's team competed in the North, several athletes raced in the Roanoke XC Invitational men's 8k. Lynchburg placed seventh in the 21-team field, led by Rami Dib's 26:06.6 performance for 30th.

Draven Fernandez clocked 26:31.0 for 43rd, while Luke Diemoz crossed the line in 27:02.2 for 60th. Logan Amis (27:02.4) and Eamon Rush (27:43.4) finished in 61st and 82nd, respectively.

The Hornets return to action in two weeks at the 2025 ODAC Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Nov. 1, hosted by Bridgewater College.

For results from the Connecticut College Invite, click here.

For results from the Roanoke XC Invitational, click here.

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--LYN--