SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's cross country team capped off a historic season with its best-ever team finish at the NCAA Division III National Championship, as the Engineers were fifth out of 32 scoring teams at the national meet at Milliken Research Park.
The Engineers produced three All-America performances (top-40 individual finish at championship) and a tightly packed scoring group to close out a landmark day for the program.
Leading the squad was junior Evan Lacey, who finished 22nd overall and first among Liberty League runners with a time of 24:27.9 on the 8,000-meter course. He was followed by classmate Colin Goldschmidt, who placed 26th in 24:32.4, and senior Tobin Durham, who crossed the line in 28th at 24:33.1. All three earned All-America honors, marking the most All-Americans in a single season for the men's program.
Senior Jack Loughery also placed among the top-60 individuals in the 291 runner field. He clocked a time of 24:56.3 to finish 59th overall and senior Justin Cascio was 101st at 25:19.1.
Rounding out RPI's seven-man lineup were junior Jack Czarnecki (168th, 25:46.5) and sophomore Thomas Manson (255th, 26:36.5), helping secure the team's fifth-place national result.