BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall men's cross country team returned to action after a three-week break from competition and was certainly ready to run as the Diplomats placed 13th out of 40 teams in the White Race at the prestigious Paul Short Run on Friday afternoon. Franklin & Marshall was the top finishing Centennial Conference team in its race and secured victories over several other Division II schools in the process.

F&M's first three runners across the finish line all secured personal bests times over the 8,000 meter course. The first of those Diplomats was Alfonso Knoll,who placed 43rd with a time of 26:19.1. Right behind him was Noah Hall who cracked the top 50 in the field of 340 runners with a time of 26:25.1. Alex Miller also collected a personal-best time of 26:37.4 to place 67th.

Alex Fillman made it four Diplomats to break the 27-minute mark as he finished inside the top 100 with his time of 26:55.0. Connor Ashnault rounded out the team's scoring performances as he crossed the line at the 27:12.2 mark. Three more F&M runners broke the 28-minute mark, including Owen McCann (27:36.5), Chris Mayo (27:38.8), and Mike Maglione (27:48.2). McCann's time was another one of F&M's five personal bests on the afternoon. Jack Emrey was the fifth of those PRs, finishing in a time of 28:04.6. He was followed to the finish line by Dan Gaiewski (28:59.1) as 10 Diplomats competed in the event.

Men's cross country will now resume a more traditional schedule of competing every other weekend throughout the remainder of its season. The Diplomats next return to race action on Saturday, October 15 at the Gettysburg Invitational. That meet will be the team's final preparations before the Centennial Conference Championships at the end of October.