LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall men's cross country team gets the postseason started this Saturday, October 31 as the Diplomats travel to Haverford for the 2026 Centennial Conference Championship. The men's race will get underway at 12 p.m. after the women get the day started with an 11 a.m. start.

The Diplomats placed seventh at last year's conference championship and return all of their postseason competitors from that squad. All-Centennial Conference recognition is presented to the top 14 finishers at Saturday's championship race. The deep field features six regionally-ranked teams that the Diplomats will have a chance to topple in hopes of improving on last year's finish.

Junior Zach Houff has been the Diplomats' top runner in every race this season, including first place finishes during both of the team's home meets. He recently ran a career-best 8,000-meter time of 25:20.6 at Gettysburg just two weeks ago. Houff placed 38th at last year's conference championship. Classmate Tommy Tapino enters the week coming off an 8K PR at Gettysburg where he finished in 25:23.2.

Senior George Williams is having the best season of his collegiate career and recently posted a personal best time of 26:57.5 at Gettysburg. First-year Asher Walton finished in 26:36.5 during his first collegiate 8,000-meter race, while fellow rookie Walter Mulroy finished in under 28 minutes during his first collegiate 8K. Sean Gorman previously broke the 27-minute mark on an 8,000-meter course, but has been sidelined since the second race of the season. Seniors Cole Smith and Aiden Cotter have all come in under 28 minutes in their careers, as has junior Addison Neuen.

Teams can enter up to 12 individuals at the conference championship. Sophomores Brian Mix and Harvey Li both have championship experience from their rookie campaigns. First-years Geoffrey Beane, Chase Bellamy, Milo Burns, Rowan Grant, and Jack Johnson completed their first collegiate 8K at Gettysburg two weeks ago and would be making their postseason debuts.

Defending champion Johns Hopkins and nationally-ranked Haverford hold the top spots in the respective Mid-Atlantic and Metro Region rankings. Other regionally-ranked teams competing on Saturday include Swarthmore (No. 2 Metro), Dickinson (No. 6 Mid-Atlantic), Gettysburg (No. 9 Mid-Atlantic), and Ursinus (No. 9 Metro).

Following Saturday's Centennial Conference Championship, the Diplomats have two more weeks to prepare for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship which is being held at Lock Haven on Saturday, November 14. That race will be the meet where bids to the NCAA Division III National Championships will be awarded.