BOSTON, Mass. – The Yale men's cross country team continued its impressive season Saturday morning, taking seventh position in the competitive New England Championships held at Franklin Park in Boston. 

In perfect cross country conditions – mild, wet, and muddy – the squad began strongly, coming through the first mile in the 4.45 - 4.55 range, before being strung out up "Bear Cage" hill for the first of two times. The all-important middle miles were then spent in "the Wilderness" – an undulating, wooded section – before a final push up and down the hill into the finishing straight.

First year Richard Sturtevant built on his performances at Harvard-Yale and the Panorama Farms Invitational to finish as the first Bulldog on the day in 16th with a stunning PR of 25 minutes 21 seconds. Close behind, Evan Pattinelli and Austin Stoner were also having some of the best races of the college careers. Both ran PRs, finishing in 25 minutes 38 seconds and 25 minutes 51 seconds for 27th and 36th place respectively. 

Rounding off the scoring pack, Hugh Sadler finished 50th in 26 minutes 4 seconds, with Armstrong Noonan coming home just behind in 53rd. Henry Saul and Harrison Smith both competed strongly, finishing in 68th and 95th respectively. 

Of the team performance, captain Stoner said: 

"I was very pleased with how all the guys fought today. Though we were racing a bunch of squads with their seven best runners on the line, I don't believe we were intimidated at all. To be only 14 points outside of the top three at a meet like this while resting our varsity bodes very well for our team. Those who are racing at Pre-Nationals should take major confidence from how the back of our pack is performing right now. We are strong across the board and every guy is ready to step up at each and every race, regardless of position."

Those who raced today will now return to New Haven ready to put in two final weeks of hard work before the taper begins for the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships on Nov. 1. The team's varsity seven, meanwhile, head to Terre Haute, Ind., next weekend for the Pre-Nationals Invitational where they will looks to test themselves against the best in the country.