BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall men's cross country team got to showcase all of its training over the past few weeks at Lehigh's Paul Short Run on Saturday. Competing at the 8,000 meter distance for the first time this season, the Diplomats placed fourth overall out of 22 teams during the Green Race. F&M was the top Centennial Conference school in that race, including a win versus Gettysburg after being edged by the Bullets at the Little Three Meet.

The Diplomats had a pair of individuals recognized as award winners for their respective top 25 individual finishes in the field of 203 runners. First-year Sean Gorman led the Diplomats to the finish line with his time of 27:25.0, with Owen McCann claiming 24th place in a time of 27:32.8. Both of those runners were honored following the race during the awards ceremony. Tommy Tapino (27:54.9) and Holden Brown (28:03.1) were each among the top 40 finishers with their respective 33rd and 39th place showings.

Franklin & Marshall's fifth runner, Seamus Downey (28:49.0) led a huge contingent of Diplomats to the line in short order as the team's fifth through ninth finishers were separated by just over 30 seconds. Zach Houff (28:59.8) ran hard to the line to get under the 29-minute mark before Aiden Cotter (29:00.4), Cole Smith (29:03.6), Addison Neuen (29:09.9), George Williams (29:19.9), and Andrew Li (30:48.3) all crossed the line shortly after him.

Men's cross country has one final race before the postseason gets underway in November. That final tune-up before the Centennial Conference Championship will be on Saturday, October 19 when the Diplomats take part in the Gettysburg Invitational.