HOUGHTON, N.Y.—The Hobart cross country team made significant time gains during the Houghton Highlander Invitational this afternoon. All 12 Statesmen runners posted season's best times for 8-kilometers.
 

"I'm really proud of how our team competed and supported one another today. This was a true breakout performance across the board, and it showed the strength of our group. The confidence and momentum we gained today will be huge as we head into championship season." —Hobart Head Coach Tyler Wilkie

 
Sophomore Duncan Kipkoech was the first Hobart runner across the finish line, stopping the clock at 26:08, the second fastest 8K time in Hobart history and more than 53 seconds faster than his previous season's best time. He placed 29th in a field of 214 entries. The fastest 8k in Hobart history belongs to Ben Flanagan '10, who ran 25:29.81 in the 2009 CCOC Championships.
 
First-year Malachi Quinn was the next Hobart runner across the line, posting an impressive 88 second improvement with a time of 27:39.4.

HOBART HIGHLIGHTS

• Duncan Kipkoech, 29th, 26:08.0 (-0:53.8)
• Malachi Quinn, 85th, 27:39.4 (-1:28.1)
• Philip Dilgard-Clark, 89th, 27:43.6 (-43.8)
• Sean Moran, 97th, 27:56.0 (-52.1)
• Connor Gasper, 113th, 28:15.6 (1:13.8)

 
RIT, behind overall winner Derick Koen (24:42.2), won the team title by 17 points over runner-up Lock Haven. Hobart finished ninth in the team standings, just behind eighth place Alfred State. The Statesmen and St. John Fisher tied for ninth place, but Hobart prevailed on the tiebreaker thanks to senior James Nelson's overall finish, 17 places ahead of the Cardinals' Connor Levy.
 
Hobart will host its next race, the annual Cross Country Only Conference Championships, Oct. 18 at Seneca Lake State Park.