LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall men's cross country team took second place at the Little Three Invitational. Hosted on F&M's Baker Campus, the Diplomats put each of their top five runners in front of the Bullets' top finisher while falling only to Dickinson in the annual rivalry. 

First-year Donnie Jellig led the Diplomats to the finish line with a time of 15:52.59 as he placed third overall in the field of 37 runners. He was followed closely to the finish by teammate Noah Hall's time of 15:52.84. Owen McCann (16:14.84) and Alex Miller (16:21.07) also earned top 10 finished in the meet, placing eighth and 10th, respectively.

Coming in as the No. 5 runner on the team was Alfonso Knoll who claimed 11th with a time of 16:22.05. Franklin & Marshall had six runners overall break the 17 minute mark as Cole Smith placed 17th with a time of 16:51.44. Twelve Diplomats in total competed in the home meet as Aiden Cotter (17:11.76), Jake Naddelman (17:16.23), George Williams (17:47.94), Holden Brown (18:56.41), Nick Trapani (19:31.95), and Jack Kelley (20:11.62) were also finishers for Franklin & Marshall.

Men's cross country will now have just over two weeks before heading to Lehigh on Saturday, September 30 for the prestigious Paul Short Run. The 2023 Paul Short Run will mark the 49th time the event has been held at Lehigh. The meet annually attracts some of the top teams across NCAA Divisions I, II, and III.