MXC | Gaels Take Second with Three Top-10 Finishes at Home Saint Mary’s Invitational

Friday, September 18

Newhall Park/Concord, CA

8:45 AM

Saint Mary's College of California

Saint Mary's Invitational

Results

Joe O'Connell Finishes 2nd at the SMC Invitational

Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner

MXC | Gaels Take Second with Three Top-10 Finishes at Home Saint Mary’s Invitational

9/18/2026 11:24:00 AM | Men's Cross Country

CONCORD, Calif. — The Saint Mary's men's cross country team returned to racing at home for the first time since the 2021 WCC Championships, placing second overall in a field of 13 teams and earning three top-ten individual finishes at the Saint Mary's Invitational.

First in for the Gaels was redshirt senior Joseph O'Connell, who finished second overall in a field of 140 runners with a time of 23:05.6. Right behind him was fellow senior Jacob Moffett, who took third place with a time of 23:19.8. Making his debut as a Gael was yet another redshirt senior, Damian Frausto, who clocked in with a time of 23:29.6 to snatch ninth place. Also making his Saint Mary's debut was Dennis Cheruiyot, who crossed the finish line in 24:14.1 to place 43rd. After leading the Gaels in their season opener, Joel Fischer rounded out the top five finishers for Saint Mary's with a time of 24:14.9 to finish 44th overall.

The Gaels will look to carry this momentum as they return to action on Friday, October 2 at the Pacific Invitational at Micke Grove Golf Course in Lodi.

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