MXC | Gaels Open 2026 Season with 10th Place Finish at USF Invitational

Friday, September 4

Golden Gate Park/San Francisco, CA

2:30 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

USF Invitational

MXC | Gaels Open 2026 Season with 10th Place Finish at USF Invitational

9/4/2026 3:48:00 PM | Men's Cross Country

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Saint Mary's men's cross country team kicked off the 2026 season at the USF Invitational on Friday afternoon, placing 10th overall in a field of 17 teams.

Senior Joel Fischer led the way for the Gaels in his first coll egiate 8K and placed 48th in a field of 189 runners. Fischer surpassed 61 runners throughout the race to cross the finish line in 25:14.5. Fellow seniors Alan Solari and Ethan Gray were next across the line for Saint Mary's. Solari placed 60th overall with a time of 25:37.5, while Gray followed with a time of 26:07.3 to take 82nd. Next in for the Gaels was sophomore Anthony Sharp, who finished the race in 26:10.7. Freshman Matteo Byrd rounded out the top five finishers for Saint Mary's after moving up 65 spots over the race to finish in 26:13.4.

Multiple freshmen made their collegiate debuts for the Gaels, including Byrd, Joshua Sonoda (26:17.1), Noah Barthel (26:34.5), and Shane Sparks (27:39.6). Also making their Saint Mary's debuts were transfers Luis Muradas (26:42.0) and Christopher Chavez (26:48.9), with both competing in their first collegiate 8K. The Gaels also saw personal bests from Nick Shoemaker (26:25.3), Moss Michelsen (26:35.5), Connor McGhee (27:35.0), and Emmanuel Moes (29:45.8).

Saint Mary's will be back in action to continue the 2026 season as they host the Saint Mary's Invitational at Newhall Park on Friday, September 18th with races kicking off at 8:45 a.m.

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