MIDDLETOWN, CT. - The Wesleyan men's cross country team, led by Dylan Cote, put on a solid performance at home as they played host to the Cardinal Invitational on Saturday morning, placing third of nine teams in the race as Cote crossed the finish line in first place. 

Racing to a first-place finish in 24:12.4, Cote set a new personal best record and finished more than four seconds ahead of the runner-up from WPI. Amherst won the event, followed by WPI and Wesleyan. Washington and Lee, Keene State, Coast Guard, Eastern Connecticut State, Ursinus, and Merchant Marine Academy made up the rest of the field. 

Senior Ben McKinney '27 followed in 16th place, leading a pack of seven Cardinals, with a time of 25:32.1, while Emmett Leachman '29 was close behind in 17th at 25:34.9, also recording a personal-best mark. Noah Mahoney '27 and Dan Irish '29 rounded out Wesleyan's top five, placing 18th and 19th, respectively, in 25:39.4 and 25:40.0. 

The Cardinals continued to post strong depth throughout the field, with Boomer Weisman '29 (21st, 25:43.0),  Easy Weissman '28 (22nd, 25:44.8), and Alex Lara '27 (23rd, 25:45.3) all finishing within 12 seconds of McKinney.

The Cardinals return to action on Friday, Oct. 2, for the Paul Short Invitational in Bethlehem, Pa.