RESULTS

BROCKPORT, N.Y. - The Ithaca College men's cross country took on familiar faces from the Niagara Region in an early season test at the Tom Balon Alumni Classic hosted by SUNY Brockport at Sweden Town Park. The team came away with a fourth-place finish and many personal bests as they topped Brockport who was ranked fourth, three places higher than the Bombers in the USTFCCCA Preseason Niagara Regional Rankings. 

The Bombers have opened their cross country season at the Tom Balon Alumni Classic the previous three seasons. In 2024, only five runners ran under the 17-minute barrier for the 5,000 meters; this year that number rose to 11, more than half of Ithaca's 17 competitors. 

The team was led by junior Elliott Painting who finished 12th overall in a time of 15:56.4. Painting, who qualified for the Liberty League Championship last spring in the 10,000 meters, dipped under the 16-minute mark for the first time today. After not making the Bombers' varsity seven in his first two seasons, Painting is a name to look out for as the season progresses. 

Rounding out the top 20, senior Ben Buffone took 18th in 16:04.9 and was closely followed by junior Toag Wolf in 16:06.6. Buffone returned to action for the first time since the indoor AARTFC Championships that saw him win the 800 meters in a time of 1:52.45, a school and meet record. Wolf was a varsity runner last season in cross country and qualified for the Liberty League Indoor Championship in the 5,000 meters. 

The Bombers scorers were rounded out with two first-year athletes. Griffin Lupes took 22nd with a 16:13.5 and Felix Farrugia crossed the line in 16:27.7 for 32nd, strong performances in their collegiate debuts. 

The varsity seven was rounded out by sophomore Colin Lesher and senior Aidan Loughlin. Lesher ran 16:29.0 for a collegiate personal best, finishing right behind Farrugia. Loughlin ran 17 seconds better than his track 5,000-meter personal best. Lesher is a varsity returner while Loughlin looks to crack the regionals team for the first time in his career. 

The team took fourth place behind the Brockport Alumni team, Rochester Institute of Technology who is ranked sixth in the region, and the University of Rochester who is ranked fifth. The Bombers will look to continue their positive momentum when they resume competition in two weeks when they travel to Rochester to compete in an 8k at the Yellowjacket Invitational.