Smithfield, RI (09/15/2023) – Franklin Pierce University's Men's cross country program opened their season with a solid 4^th place overall team finish at the Shawn M. Nassaney Invitational hosted by Bryant University.

Junior runner Wondu Summa (Burlington, V.T.) was the team's top finisher, placing runner-up by just 1.4 seconds. Summa finished the 5k race with a 15:08 time, breaking down to a speedy 4:53 pace.

The two closest Pierce runners behind Summa were junior Ryan Outerbridge (Paget, Bermuda) who finished 25^th with a 15:50 time (5:06 pace) and freshman Mendo Alonso (Málaga, Spain) who kicked off his career as Raven with a final time of 16:04 placing 31^st overall. Alonso also placed as the first non-division I freshman in the race.

Team results are listed below:

MEN'S 5K TEAM RESULTS:
Place: 4/10 teams  
Average Time: 15:51

Wondu Summa – 2^nd --  15:08 – 4:53 Avg. pace
Ryan Outerbridge – 25^th – 15:50 – 5:06 Avg pace
Mendo Alonso – 37^th – 16:04 – 5:11 Avg. pace
Tad Darrah – 39^th – 16:06 – 5:11 Avg. pace
Evan McNeice – 40^th – 16:08 – 5:12 Avg. pace
Ryan Walker – 59^th – 16:38 – 5:22 Avg. pace
Harrison Pelosi – 77^th – 17:03 – 5:30 Avg. pace
Declan Morgan – 84^th – 17:18 – 5:35 Avg. pace
Janvier Ntakirutimana – 98^th – 17:32 – 5:39 Avg. pace
Logan Mihelich – 102^nd – 17:43 – 5:43 Avg. pace
Liam Doherty – 105^th – 17:48 – 5:44 Avg. pace
John Viens – 106^th – 17:49 – 5:44 Avg. pace
Ben Clinch – 121^st – 18:30 – 5:58 Avg. pace
Aidan Healy – 129^th – 20:15 – 6:32 Avg. pace
Jacob Moody – 132^nd – 21:07 – 6:48 Avg. pace

For full results, click here.

NEXT UP FOR THE RAVENS:

FPU men's cross country will be back on course Sunday September 17^th for the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Invitational.