Hawks Cross Country races in 2023 Piper Alumni Open

Hagerstown men's cross country opened the fall 2023 season at Shippensburg University, running in the Piper Alumni Open/Cross Country Challenge on Friday, September 1st. The Hawks placed 10th out of 12 teams in the 6K race, with a team score of 296. The Shippensburg Raiders pulled out a decisive home victory, scoring a team effort of 24, with runners placing 3rd (19:06.8), 5th (19:20.2), 6th (19:20.4), 7th (19:25.2) and 8th (19:25.4). Schools competing included Messiah, Dickinson, Frostburg State, Elizabethtown, West Chester, York, Gettysburg, Hood, Maymount, and Ship Alumni.

In a field of 74 runners, freshman Noah Schappell (Washington High School) ran the course in 20:55.7, placing 54th, followed by freshman teammate Jackson Mundey (Berkeley Springs High School) placing 72nd (21:24.7), sophomore Tommy Bildheiser placing 80th (21:39.0), and freshmen Jake Scallion (North Hagerstown High School) and Emmanuel Enow (Clear Spring High School) placing 101st (22:31.8) and 102nd (22:32.8) respectively.

The Hawks had three individual women runners competing against Ship Alumni, Washington and Lee, Dickinson, Shippensburg, Gettysburg, Messiah, West Chester, Elizabethtown, Frostburg State, York, Hood, Marymount, and Harford CC. In a field of 151 runners, Morgan Jarrell (Brunswick High School) placed 107th (18:03.1), followed by teammates Clare Woodring (Williamsport High School) placing 124th (19:02.3), and Maggie Thompson (Tuscarora High School) placing 137th (20:02.8).

"This was a very positive opening effort for both our men and women," noted Coach Mike Spinnler. "Incoming freshmen Noah Schappell and Jackson Mundey led the charge for the men in their collegiate debuts. Team Captain and sophomore, Tommy Bildheiser, offered strong support in the three-man position, followed by solid efforts from Jake Scallion and Emanuel Enow in the four and five scoring positions." Spinnler was pleased to have Hagerstown CC women running in the race, "For the first time since the pandemic, HCC put female student/athletes on the starting line of a collegiate cross country competition."

The Hawks travel to the Hood College Invitational at Frederick County's Utica Park on Friday, September 8th, race time 5:00 p.m. To follow Hawks Cross Country visit https://hagerstown.prestosports.com/sports/xc/2023-24/schedule.