FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Despite the difficult conditions, the Oneonta men's cross-country team took fourth place at the Fredonia Kara Hall Memorial Invitational, Friday afternoon. Oneonta totaled 133 points with an average time of 27:26.6 in the 8K for the fourth place finish out of 13 teams. Sophomore Xander Kunz (Elbridge, NY/Jordan-Elbridge) led the team and placed 14th overall out of 147 runners in the race, while freshman Ryan Pepples (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley Central) and junior Lucas Berg (Nyack, NY/Nyack) each finished in the top 30. 

"The course was muddy after a morning of rain which made it tougher, but the guys worked hard and put in a solid effort," Associate Head Coach Meghann Tanner commented. "There were a lot of improvements and all of them are excited to race at Geneseo in two weeks and continue the progress."

Kunz cruised through the course and posted a time of 26:56.2 to finish first for the Red Dragons. Pepples ended the race 26th overall with a time of 27:18.5, and Berg placed 29th after crossing the line at 27:29.8. Senior Noah Pickard (Batavia, NY/Batavia) was fourth on the team and finished 32nd overall at 27:32.7.

Junior Vincent DiStefano (Nesconset, NY/Smithtown West) rounded out Oneonta first five and placed 50th in the race with a time of 27:55.5. Sophomore Nick Petro (Peru, NY/Peru) was right behind DiStefano at 51st overall with a time of 27:56.8.

Freshman Thomas Cerna (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown) was Oneonta's seventh finisher, and 68th overall, at 28:26.7, and sophomore Tyler Masiello (Pleasantville, NY/Westlake) took 70th at 28:30.6.

Oneonta competes again on Friday, October 16, in Geneseo for the Mike Woods Invitational at Letchworth State Park at 12:45 pm.