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Men's Cross Country Season Preview

8/29/2024 2:00:00 PM

LEXINGTON, Va. – The Washington and Lee Men's Cross Country team, receiving votes in the national poll and ranked third in the region, opens the 2024 season on Friday evening at Bridgewater College.

Head Coach Brandon Spalding, now in his 12th season leading the Generals, will have 19 runners in the starting box. The squad includes six first-year athletes, joining 13 returners. Among the returners, five have previously earned All-Region honors.

Catch the men's cross country seniors who kick off their final season for W&L cross country on Friday, August 30.

USTFCCCA NATIONAL POLL

The Washington and Lee University men's cross country team begins the 2024 season with strong regional and national rankings. In the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division III Preseason Poll, the Generals are tied for No. 28 nationally, reflecting their solid standing among the nation's best programs.

W&L is ranked No. 3 in the South Region, competing with top contenders Lynchburg (No. 1) and Emory (No. 2). Lynchburg returns five of its top seven athletes from last season, and Emory brings back its entire top seven. Despite this, W&L remains a strong contender for both regional and national success, with four all-region runners returning and six of last year's scoring seven ready to challenge for the regional title.

The South Region is gearing up for a thrilling and competitive season as the Generals aim for regional success and look to make an impact on the national stage, following their at-large team bid to the 2023 NCAA Championships.

National Poll | Regional Poll

Instead of a conference pre-season poll, ODAC Associate Commissioner JJ Nekoloff interviewed three coaches from around the league, including W&L Head Coach Brandon Spalding, to discuss the outlook for the upcoming season.

2024 ODAC Cross Country Roundtable

SCHEDULE PREVIEW

The 2024 Washington and Lee Men’s Cross Country team is set to kick off the year at the Eagles Cross Country Challenge on August 30 at Bridgewater.

The harriers will continue the season with appearances at the Virginia Tech Invitational and the highly regarded John McNichols Invitational in Indiana, the NCAA Championships Preview meet on September 21.

The team will wrap up September by competing in the Hornet Harrier on the 28th, facing strong regional opponents. W&L will then head north for their next two races: the Bates College Invitational on October 5 and the Inter-Regional Border Battle in New Jersey on October 19.

The regular season offers the Generals a chance to challenge themselves against tough competition as they build on last year’s success and aim for another team appearance at Nationals.

Postseason action kicks off with the ODAC Championships in Salem, Va. on November 2, followed by the NCAA Regional Championships on November 16 in Jackson, Miss., hosted by Millsaps College.

Generals fans are hopeful for a return trip to Terre Haute on November 23 for the NCAA National Championships.

Check out the full 2024 W&L men's cross country season HERE.

KEY RETURNERS

As the Men’s Cross Country team gears up for the 2024 season, the squad will be led by a core group of key returners who made significant impacts in 2023.

Senior co-captain Row Sterne stands out, having finished 70th at the National Championships and securing a sixth-place finish at Regionals. His fourth-place finish at the conference championships earned him First Team All-ODAC honors alongside his All-Region accolade.

Keaton Rush returns after a strong sophomore campaign, highlighted by a 10th-place finish at Regionals and a solid performance at Nationals. His consistency in key races will be crucial for the team's success this season.

Robert Cooper, Thomas Franklin, and Jackson Kodenski also bring valuable experience from their rookie campaigns. Cooper was a consistent top scorer and earned All-Region honors with a 14th-place finish, joined by Kodenski, who also secured All-Region recognition. Both Franklin and Kodenski finished in the top 14 at the ODAC Championships, earning them Second Team All-ODAC honors.

The return of William Dunaway and Colin Verrett from injury adds depth to the squad. Verrett, the 2022 ODAC Co-Rookie of the Year and All-Region selection, brings additional strength to the lineup.

With this talented group of returners mixed in with a talented 2028 class, the Generals are poised to build on last year’s success and make a strong push.

2024 W&L Men's Cross Country Captains Row Sterne (Left) and Keaton Rush (Right)

Senior Row Sterne, hailing from Lynchburg, Va., is a two-time team captain for the Washington and Lee Men’s Cross Country team.

Majoring in History, Row has been a standout both on the course and in the classroom. In the 2023-24 season, he earned All-Region honors with a 6th place finish at the South Region Championships and placed 4th at the ODAC Championships, where he was named First Team All-ODAC. Sterne was the highest finisher on the nationa stage for W&L. Stern finished 70th in a time of 25:31.0.

A W&L Scholar-Athlete and a member of the USTFCCCA All-Academic Squad, Row's leadership extends beyond athletics. He co-leads the Fly Fishing Club, volunteers with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and has participated in numerous environmental initiatives while at W&L.

Junior Keaton Rush, from Devon, Pa., and returns from a breakout sophomore campain and will serve as a co-captain for the 2024 Men’s Cross Country team.

In the 2023-24 season, Keaton earned All-Region honors with a 10th place finish at the South Region Championships and placed 19th at the ODAC Championships.

Majoring in Accounting and Economics, Keaton has demonstrated excellence both on the course and in his academic pursuits.His academic achievements include being named a W&L Scholar Athlete, a member of the USTFCCCA All-Academic Squad, and earning College Sport Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors.

Beyond athletics, Keaton serves as a Group Head for the Williams Investment Society and as Treasurer of the Executive Committee, reflecting his strong leadership skills. He also volunteers with Campus Kitchen and at a local elementary school.

This group has been working hard since the outdoor track season ended in May, and I’m very pleased with how this preseason has started.

We have great leadership and have added an impactful group of first-year athletes. It’s exciting to have so much experience returning as we prepare to begin the season tomorrow.

We’re one of the few teams in the country that returns our top three runners from last year’s National Championships. I’m confident our schedule sets us up well for the postseason and gives us the best chance to repeat last year’s success.

Head Coach Brandon Spalding

Washington and Lee University

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