Paul Smith's College Men's XC Team Places Third at the Cross Country Only Championships

2025 Cross Country Team

Cross Country Only Championships hosted by William Smith and Hobart Colleges

Seneca Lake State Park, Geneva, NY

18 October '25 

Race Summary

Men's 8K: Paul Smith's College Men's XC team placed third in the Cross Country Only Championships with 78 points in a solid team effort and steady improved performances by a team dominated by first year student athletes.  Clarkson won the event with 20 points, followed by host Hobart College with 53 points.  Keuka finished fourth with 116 followed by SUNY Canton with 122 points. 

Eliot Soderholm (Reston, VA/South Lakes HS) paced the men's team with a 6^th place finish in 27:04.  First year student, Bryce Shannon (Sparrow Bush, NY/Port Jervis HS) finished in 16^th place with an excellent time of 28:09.  Shannon has shaved off 2:40 in his 8K performances this season and has remained a very steady number 2 runner for the Bobcats.  Matt Matis (Susquehanna, PA/Susquehanna Community HS) finished in 30:32 to place 41^st establishing another personal best.  Over four races, he has shaved off 3:06 in his finish times for the 8K distance this season.  

AJ Esposito (West Charleston, VT/North Country Union High School) finished as our #4 runner, placing 48^th with a time of 31:47.  AJ has been among the injured this fall season, and after a lengthy recovery period, this was his first time competing in a collegiate cross country race.  He really looked comfortable on Saturday, holding his own over this windy course.  Brock Boissey (Cadyville, NY/Saranac HS) rounded out the scoring five for the men, finishing in 33:16.  Brock continues to improve from race to race, and much like his teammates this crew has been working steady and encouraging one another all season. 

Tim James (Lancaster, MA/Minuteman Regional Technical HS) and Aidan Minihan finished 6^th and 7^th for Paul Smith's, coming across the finish line in 34:48 and 35:02 respectively.  Tim has quietly taken off about 5 minutes for the 8K distance over the season, while Captain Aidan Minihan ran his fastest race of the season on Saturday too, averaging 4:22 per kilometer.  Reece Perry (Malone, NY/Franklin Academy) finished in 36:11, and was running a spirited race with a fellow athlete from SUNY Canton throughout the event.  Noah Keys (LeRoy, NY/LeRoy HS) has been dealing with some nagging injuries through the fall season, and yet he continues to improve from week to week, finishing in 42:26.  In cross country, so much of the improved performances are a result of the hard work put in behind the scenes, from week to week and month to month, while the athlete's internal drive plays a major role in how each person deals with the pain one feels during various stages of a given event.  This year's team collectively has been extremely supportive of one another, and no matter one's talent and gift for running excellence, this has been a fine crew from Day 1.

Women's 6K: The Bobcat women's team was really looking forward to returning to a complete scoring team in the Cross Country Only Championships held on the shore of Seneca Lake at Seneca Lake State Park as both Morgan Cheney and Madi Kirn were returning to racing after a prolonged period of rest and recovery from their early season injuries.  The Athletic Trainer and the athletes have done a super job of working together in overcoming these challenges this fall season.  

Sadly, team Captain Brooklynn Shumway broke her right arm playing defense for the women's ice hockey team Friday evening while the XC team was enroute to Syracuse for the overnight to get ready for Saturday's race.  Brooklynn's injury will sideline her for the remainder of the XC season.  This set up the remaining four women to prepare for Saturday's race without their cheerful leader ~ Brooklynn.  Chloe Freund is also a team captain and this tandem are excellent leaders for the entire program together.  Chloe and Joanna Kerchner led the way on Saturday, with Chloe placing 26^th in 29:29, and Joanna finishing 30^th in 31:23.  Both were a bit off from their earlier season performances, but given the situation, this was to be expected. 

Meanwhile, Morgan Cheney finished 31^st in 31:26 in her first 8K race of the season, while Madi Kirn finished in 34:35 to place 37^th overall.  For Madi, who is a transfer student from Northland College, this was her best 8K collegiate finish time.  It was great to see both of these transfer students perform on Saturday, with solid performances and overtaking fellow competitors throughout the event.  It can be really difficult to know how your body will respond on race day following a lengthy recovery from an injury, but it appeared that Morgan and Madi enjoyed their performances in the CCOC 6K race.

Next on the calendar for the cross country team is the 32^nd annual Pumpkin McMuffin 5K Fun Run at 11 AM at the Paul Smith's College Visitor's Interpretive Center (VIC) on October 25^th.  Annually, the participants enjoy preparing their seasonal costumes for the Pumpkin McMuffin race, which features a predict your finish time as well as awards for the best costumes.  The event is held in honor of Nic G. Pendl, an excelled Paul Smith's College student – athlete who died tragically due to complications associated with a seizure.  Nic was following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Bob Potter, studying forestry at Paul Smith's College, and was an outstanding snowshoe racer prior to his tragic death.  This race is open to the campus community and the public.  Entry fee is $15 for the general public.

Women's Finishers: 47                                Men's Finishers: 77 

Women's Team Scores                                 Men's Team Scores

1. William Smith 25                                     1. Clarkson 20
2. Clarkson 33                                               2. Hobart 53
3. Keuka 94                                                   3. Paul Smith's 78
4. SUNY Canton 103                                    4. Keuka 116

Incomplete:  Paul Smith's                         5. SUNY Canton 122