Friday, October 2
Mickey Grove Golf Course / Lodi, CA
4:00 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
vs
Pacific Invitational
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
MXC | Gaels Look to Build Momentum at Pacific Invitational
9/30/2026 10:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
MORAGA, Calif. — The Saint Mary's men's cross country team continues its season this week at the Pacific Invitational following a strong second-place finish at the Saint Mary's Invitational.
Leading the Gaels across the finish line was redshirt senior Joseph O'Connell, who made his Saint Mary's debut. O'Connell finished second overall in a field of 140 runners with a time of 23:05.6. The impressive debut earned him Saint Mary's Student-Athlete of the Week honors. Fellow senior Jacob Moffett followed him in third place to cross the finish line in 23:19.8, while Damian Frausto gave the Gaels three top-ten finishers with a ninth-place finish in his Saint Mary's debut, clocking in at 23:29.6. Dennis Cheruiyot also made his debut as a Gael, completing the race in 24:14.1. Rounding out the top five finishers for Saint Mary's was Joel Fischer, who clocked in at 24:14.9.
Representing the Gaels at the Pacific Invitational will be senior Moss Michelsen, juniors Emmanuel Moes, Luis Muradas, Andrew Perez, and Aiden Tarantino, sophomores Luke Davis, Quinn Davis, and Nick Shoemaker, and freshmen Noah Barthel, Matteo Byrd, Joshua Sonoda, and Shane Sparks. Of this group, Tarantino owns the fastest 8K time, which he recorded at the 2024 PacWest Cross Country Championships while competing for Azusa Pacific. Tarantino finished the race in 25:12.0 to place 23rd overall in a field of 81 runners.
Last season, the Gaels finished third out of six teams at the Pacific Invitational, as Perez finished second for Saint Mary's and eleventh overall with a time of 25:48.8. The season prior, Saint Mary's took first out of seven teams at the 2024 Pacific Invitational.
The Pacific Invitational will take place at Micke Grove Golf Course in Lodi on Friday, October 2 with the men's 8K taking place at 4:00 p.m. The course will feature mostly flat 2k loops.
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
#GaelsRise
Leading the Gaels across the finish line was redshirt senior Joseph O'Connell, who made his Saint Mary's debut. O'Connell finished second overall in a field of 140 runners with a time of 23:05.6. The impressive debut earned him Saint Mary's Student-Athlete of the Week honors. Fellow senior Jacob Moffett followed him in third place to cross the finish line in 23:19.8, while Damian Frausto gave the Gaels three top-ten finishers with a ninth-place finish in his Saint Mary's debut, clocking in at 23:29.6. Dennis Cheruiyot also made his debut as a Gael, completing the race in 24:14.1. Rounding out the top five finishers for Saint Mary's was Joel Fischer, who clocked in at 24:14.9.
Representing the Gaels at the Pacific Invitational will be senior Moss Michelsen, juniors Emmanuel Moes, Luis Muradas, Andrew Perez, and Aiden Tarantino, sophomores Luke Davis, Quinn Davis, and Nick Shoemaker, and freshmen Noah Barthel, Matteo Byrd, Joshua Sonoda, and Shane Sparks. Of this group, Tarantino owns the fastest 8K time, which he recorded at the 2024 PacWest Cross Country Championships while competing for Azusa Pacific. Tarantino finished the race in 25:12.0 to place 23rd overall in a field of 81 runners.
Last season, the Gaels finished third out of six teams at the Pacific Invitational, as Perez finished second for Saint Mary's and eleventh overall with a time of 25:48.8. The season prior, Saint Mary's took first out of seven teams at the 2024 Pacific Invitational.
The Pacific Invitational will take place at Micke Grove Golf Course in Lodi on Friday, October 2 with the men's 8K taking place at 4:00 p.m. The course will feature mostly flat 2k loops.
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
Monday, September 28
Saturday, September 26
Saturday, September 26
Saturday, September 26
