TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The No. 29 Washington and Lee men's cross country team finished 10th overall at the John McNichols Invitational on Saturday, scoring 286 points. The Generals competed well in a strong field and placed ahead of No. 28 Chicago, who finished 11th with 304 points.

Sophomore Robert Cooper led the Generals, finishing 29th overall with a time of 25:00.2. Junior Keaton Rush followed in 46th place, clocking 25:11.7, while senior Row Sterne finished 82nd with a time of 25:38.8. The top five runners averaged 25:37 in a competitive field that included ten nationally ranked Division III teams, along with top regional Division I and II programs.

The John McNichols Invitational featured the largest and most competitive field Washington and Lee will face before the national championships in November, also held on the same course. A total of 466 runners from 34 teams competed. The LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course, opened in 1997 and designed by the late Indiana State coach John McNichols, is known for its challenging mix of uphill and downhill sections, and a nearly one-kilometer straightaway start. It has hosted 13 NCAA Division I National Championships and will host the 2024 NCAA Division III National Championship.

SCORING SEVEN

• Robert Cooper - 25:00.2 
• Keaton Rush - 25:11.7
• Row Sterne - 25:38.8
• William Dunaway - 25:58.5
• Thomas Franklin - 26:19.6
• Colin Verrett - 26:36.6 - 151
• Wyatt Benjamin - 26:39.1 - 159

OPEN TEAM RESULTS SUMMARY

1. No. 1 Wisconsin-La Crosse - 46 points
2. No. 2 Wartburg - 72 points
3. No. 6 North Central (Ill.) - 95 points
4. No. 7 Johns Hopkins - 141 points
5. No. 18 NYU - 144 points
6. No. 5 Lynchburg - 245 points
7. No. 23 Calvin - 246 points
8. (DII) Illinois Springfield - 263 points
9. No. 13 Washington U. - 264 points
10. No. 29 Washington and Lee - 286 points
11. No. 28 Chicago - 304 points

UP NEXT
The Generals will compete at the Hornet Harrier in Winchester, Va., on September 28, with the race starting at 10:45 a.m.
 

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Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.