TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — The No. 19-ranked Washington and Lee University men's cross country team capped a historic season with a 21st-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships on Saturday at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course. With 32 teams competing, the placement marks the program's best finish at the national meet, surpassing the 21st-place showing in 1995 when only 21 teams competed.
The Generals scored 559 points in the 32-team field and were led by sophomore Robert Cooper, who crossed the line in 51st place with a time of 24:53.0, scoring 40 points. Cooper's performance was supported by Keaton Rush, who finished 75th (57 points) in 25:01.8, and senior Row Sterne, who took 158th overall (117 points) with a time of 25:32.1.
Sophomore Thomas Franklin (172nd, 25:58.1, 172 points) and Jackson Kodenski (173rd, 25:58.2, 173 points) completed the Generals' scoring five. First-year William Dunaway (208th, 26:39.7) and first-year Raja Mehendale (215th, 26:59.5) rounded out W&L's competitors.
RACE HIGHLIGHTS
- Team Spread: The Generals maintained a tight scoring spread of 1:05.3 among their top five runners.
- Average Team Time: 25:28.7 over 8 kilometers.
- Strong Progression: Cooper moved up 57 spots from the 2K to the finish line, demonstrating remarkable late-race strength.
- This marks Washington and Lee's fifth appearance at the NCAA Championships.
- The team's 21st-place finish represents the highest standing in program history in the modern expanded field.
- Wisconsin-La Crosse dominated the meet, scoring 77 points with a 24:25.7 average.
- Senior Christian Patzka from Wisconsin-Whitewater claimed the individual title in 24:01.6.
SCORING SEVEN
IN DEPTH
The Generals' finish caps off a season filled with milestones, including a third-place performance at the South Regional Championships and the second-straight at-large qualification to the National Championships. The Generals posted the highest ranking in the national poll at No. 12 during the regular season and will wrap up the year at No. 21. The Blue and White out-performed their 2023 showing by nine places and sophomore Robert Copper posted W&L's third-best individual performance on the big stage.
Robert Cooper led the Generals with a 51st-place finish, scoring 40 points with a time of 24:53.0. Starting in 108th at the 1K mark, he steadily advanced through the field, gaining 57 places by the 4K checkpoint and finishing strong. His consistent pacing and a late surge over the final kilometers highlighted his ability to move effectively through a competitive field, making him W&L's top performer on the day.
Keaton Rush finished 75th overall, scoring 57 points with a time of 25:01.8. Beginning in 52nd at 1K, he maintained a steady position throughout the race, demonstrating his ability to keep pace with the national field. Senior Row Sterne finished 158th, scoring 117 points with a time of 25:32.1.
Sophomore Thomas Franklin placed 227th, scoring 172 points with a time of 25:58.1. Beginning in 134th at 1K, Franklin dropped back to 236th at 4K but staged a late comeback, gaining 19 spots before the finish. Classmate Jackson Kodenski finished 228th, scoring 173 points with a time of 25:58.2. Starting in 194th at 1K, he consistently gained positions throughout the race, advancing 17 spots in the final stretch. His steady improvement during the race bolstered the Generals' scoring effort, rounding out the top five.
To wrap up their first collegiate cross country seasons, William Dunaway finished 275th with a time of 26:39. and First-year Raja Mehendale finished 284th with a time of 26:59.5.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Generals capped the historic season and will look towards competing on the track next season.
