MADISON, WI- The Iona University men's cross country finished17th out of 32 teams at the 2024 Wisconsin Pre-Nationals on the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course in the men's 8k "A" race at the University of Wisconsin. Junior Matt Rankin was the Gaels top finisher in 33rd-place in an event that featured 24 teams ranked or receiving votes in the current USTFCCCA national poll.

THE RUNDOWN

Rankin completed the 8k course in 23:19.6 as Iona's first person over the line, just over two seconds off a top 30 day. Senior Lachlan Wellington finished 12 places behind his teammate in 45th position, completing the course in 23:27.4.
 
Next over the line for the Gaels, on his Iona debut was sophomore Duncan Robinson who completed the 8k course in 23:34.3 enough for 58th place overall. Rounding out the scoring team for the Gaels was senior Nick Soldevere in 24:26.4 (174th place) and sophomore Aiden Coles with 24:26.5 (175th place).
 
The other competitors for the Gaels featured junior Thomas Crockett (24:46.8, 205th place) and junior Max Mahon (27:22.8, 243rd place).

TEAM RESULTS AND INDIVIDUAL

The overall winner of the meet was New Mexico sophomore Habtom Samuel in 22:33.8, with Harvard senior Graham Blanks was second with a time of 22:40.5. Rounding out the top five individuals were Eastern Kentucky freshman Justine Kipkoech (22:41.8), Arkansas senior Patrick Kiprop (22:43.0) and Iowa State freshman Robin Kweomo Bera (22:45.9).
 
On the team side, No. 3 Arkansas took the title with a score of 89 points. No.4 Iowa State took second with128 points. Rounding out the top five were No.9 Stanford (142), No. 8 New Mexico (166) and No. 6 Northern Arizona (178).
 
Currently unranked, the Gaels finished ahead of No. 13 Washington, No. 14 Michigan, No. 27 Florida State, No. 28 Air Force, No. 29 Texas along with Cal Poly, Loyola Chicago, Michigan State, and Tulsa who all received votes in the latest poll.

IONA PERFORMERS

Pl.	Name	Year	Time
33.)	Matt Rankin	JR	23:19.6
45.)	Lachlan Wellington	SR	23:27.4
58.)	Duncan Robinson	SO	23:34.3
174.)	Nick Soldevere	SR	24:26.4
175.)	Aiden Coles	SO	24:26.5
205.)	Thomas Crockett	JR	24:46.8
243.)	Max Mahon	JR	27:22.8

TEAM SCORES

Pl.	Team	Score
1.)	#3 Arkansas	89
2.)	#4 Iowa State	128
3.)	#9 Stanford	142
4.)	#8 New Mexico	166
5.)	#6 Northern Arizona	178
6.)	#10 Wisconsin	199
7.)	#5 Notre Dame	200
8.)	#23 Syracuse	258
9.)	Cal Baptist	312
10.)	#20 Harvard	327
11.)	#30 Utah State	407
12.)	#RV Wyoming	407
13.)	Furman	410
14.)	#16 Colorado	418
15.)	#15 Eastern Kentucky	431
16.)	#18 Butler	435
17.)	Iona	473
18.)	#RV Michigan State	478
19.)	#RV Tulsa	492
20.)	Tulane	503
21.)	Indiana	509
22.)	#14 Michigan	522
23.)	#RV Cal Poly	571
24.)	#13 Washington	596
25.)	Ole Miss	613
26.)	NC State	640
27.)	#29 Texas	687
28.)	#RV Loyola (Ill.)	697
29.)	Lipscomb	699
30.)	Auburn	710
31.)	#27 Florida State	763
32.)	#28 Air Force	765

UP NEXT

Next up for the Gaels is the start of the postseason with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships which hosted by Manhattan at Twin Ponds on the Farm in Montgomery, New York on Saturday, November 2.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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