RESULTS

For the second season in a row, the Ithaca College men's cross country team finished fifth at the Liberty League cross country championship. The Bombers scored 116 points, narrowly losing to both RIT and St. Lawrence by eight and ten points respectfully. 

Despite the fifth place finish, the Bombers had their lowest point total since 2021, and it was also the first time since the 2021 season that the Bombers had two athletes finish with All-Liberty League Honors. 

Senior Elliot Painting and Griffin Lupes have been leading the way for the Bombers all season, and their dominance extended into the postseason. Painting finished 12th  overall, running a time of 25:47 for an 8k personal best on a challenging course that covered over 300 feet of elevation. Painting moved up 15 positions throughout the race, and improved upon his 2025 finish by 26 positions. 

Lupes had an even greater improvement. After finishing 58^th as a first-year in 2025, Lupes crossed the line in 18^th place this time around, running a personal best of 26:06, and was the sixth fastest underclassman in the field. 

Following Lupes was fellow sophomore Felix Farrugia who ran 26:44 to finish in 25th, improving on his 2025 finish by 17 positions. Junior Colin Lesher ran one of his strongest races of the season to finish in 42^nd place in a time of 27:18. Lesher moved up 26 positions throughout the race, and improved on his 2025 finish by 22 places. After dealing with an illness towards the end of the regular season, Lesher is rounding into form at the right time for the South Hill squad and is poised to be a key contributor at regionals. 

Rounding out the scorers for the Bombers was sophomore Luke Ferrer. Ferrer finished 43rd, right behind Lesher, running a time of 27:20. Ferrer moved up 13 positions throughout the race, and finished a whooping 42 places higher than he did as a first-year in 2025. 

Sophomores Brady Wortman and Dylan Tripp were the sixth and seventh runners for Ithaca, running 27:22 and 27:30 respectfully, both personal bests. Wortman and Tripp both did not qualify for the Liberty League Championship as first-years in 2025, but have been consistent contributors for the Bombers throughout this season.

RPI took home the team title for the tenth year in a row, placing seven runners inside the top 10. Senior Evan Lacey led the way individually, completely the course in a time of 24:54.

The Bombers will be back in action in two weeks for their final team competition of the season at the NCAA Division III Niagara Regional Championship at SUNY Fredonia. The Bombers will look to send at least one runner to the National Championship and have their best team finish in half a decade.