Men's Cross Country | 8/28/2025 11:00:00 AM
SUNY Geneseo will look for their second straight Empire 8 Championship, as the 2025 season gets underway on Aug. 29. The Empire 8 Championship will take place at the St. John Fisher Cross Country Course, hosted by St. John Fisher University on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 11 a.m.
Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the Empire 8 Network.
2025 Empire 8 Men's Cross Country Players to Watch
(Sorted Alphabetically by Institution)
Alfred University - Head Coach Matt Phillips
Finnegan Dean, Sr., Potsdam, NY/Potsdam - Dean, a two-time E8 Runner to Watch, placed 75th overall at the 2024 Empire 8 Championship, making him the first to cross for the Saxons.
Jake Taylor, Jr., Cohocton, NY/Avoca - Taylor placed 78th overall at the 2024 Empire 8 Championship. As an upperclassmen this season, he will be an important piece to the Saxons team.
SUNY Brockport - Head Coach John Davis
Thomas Canestrari, So., Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna - Canestrari is expected to be a big contributor this season as a young leader. With the loss of a large graduating class from last year, he will be exciting to watch.
Timothy Smith, Jr, Vestal, NY/Vestal - This is Smith's first year competing in cross country at Brockport. He was a middle-distance runner for the track and field team last season.
SUNY Geneseo - Head Coach Dan Moore
Ryan Hagan, Sr., Liverpool, NY/Liverpool - Hagan was the first place finisher at the 2024 Empire 8 Championship, making him the Individual Champion and Most Outstanding Runner. He moved on to compete at the Niagara Regional where he placed 12th, and ran at the National Championship where he helped the Knights finish sixth as a team, placing 84th overall.
Pierce Young, Jr., Arkport, NY/Arkport - Young placed seventh at the 2024 Empire 8 Championship. His finish earned him first team All-Conference. He then competed at the Niagara Regional where he finished fourth to earn All-Region accolades, then at the National Championship, he was the third finisher for the Knights placing 62nd.
Hartwick College - Head Coach Nathan Crews
Erik Higgins, Jr., Buffalo, NY/Amherst - Higgins placed 101st at the 2024 Empire 8 Championship. He set a personal record in his 8,000-meters at this race where he finished 29:47.7. He was the first to cross the finish line for the Hawks.
Larry McCumiskey, So., Delhi, NY/Delaware Academy - McCumiskey placed 119th at the 2024 Empire 8 Championship. He set a personal record in the event.
Houghton University - Head Coach Patrick Hager
Amos Bixler, Sr., Dalton, OH/Central Christian - Bixler earned All-Empire 8 first team honors at the 2023 E8 Championship and was also a 2023 All-Atlantic Region selection. In 2024, Bixler placed 20th at the E8 Championship, earning him third team All-Conference. He competed in the Niagara Regional Championship where he placed 27th to earn All-Region accolades.
Luke Ellis, Jr., Keizer, OR/Western Mennonite - Ellis placed 63rd at the 2024 Empire 8 Championship and went on to place 60th overall at the Niagara Region Championship.
Keuka College - Head Coach Ryan Johnson
Jesse Bolster, Sr., Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville - Bolster placed 109th at the 2024 Empire 8 Championship. He was the first to cross the finish line for the Wolves.
Cam Hovater, Gr., Camillus, NY/West Genesee - Hovater placed 135th at the 2024 Empire 8 Championship. He will be looked at to be a top finisher for the Wovles this season.
Nazareth University - Head Coach Mike Heymann
Antonio Benitez, Sr., Rochester, NY/Webster Schroeder - Benitez placed 50th at the 2024 Empire 8 Championship. He competed at the Niagara Regional Championship where he finished 61st.
Connor Jackson, Sr., Tully, NY/Tully - Jackson placed 40th at the 2024 Empire 8 Championship. He hit a personal record at this race with a 26:19.9 time. He competed at the Niagara Regional Championship, where he finished 39th overall.
SUNY Poly - Head Coach Jerry Tine
Noah Breedy, Sr., Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley - Breedy placed 112th at the 2024 Empire 8 Championship. He will continue to be one of the leaders for the Wildcats in 2025.
Jack McCarthy, Jr., Cornwall, NY/Cornwall - McCarthy was the first finisher for the Wildcats at the 2024 Empire 8 Championship, placing 105th.
Russell Sage College - Head Coach Regan Grube
Chris Pellegrini, Sr., Loudonville, NY/Loudonville - Pellegrini, a three-time E8 Runner to Watch, placed 113th at the 2024 E8 Championship. He will continue to be a leader for the Gators in the 2025 season.
St. John Fisher University - Head Coach Mike Henchen
Will Chubb, Sr., Akron, NY/Akron - Chubb placed 81st at the 2024 Empire 8 Championship. He will be looked at to be one of the top contributors for the Cardinals in 2025.
Jace Stuart, Jr., Apalachin, NY/Owego Free Academy - Stuart was the first finisher for the Cardinals at the 2024 Empire 8 Championship, placing 44th overall.
Utica University - Head Coach Sam Catterson
Tobias Jeralds, Sr., Canaan, NY/Chatham - In 2023, Jeralds earned second team All-Conference accolades at the Empire 8 Championship. He looks to improve and be a key contributor for the Pioneers in 2025.
Bennett Melita, Jr., Johnstown, NY/Fonda Fultonville - Melita, a three-time E8 Runner to Watch, was the 2023 E8 Cross Country Champion, Co-Runner of the Year and Rookie of the Year. In 2024, he placed fifth at the Empire 8 Championship, earning first team All-Conference honors for the second straight season. He competed in the Niagara Regional Championship where he finished ninth and competed at the NCAA Championship for the first time, finishing 164th.
Final 2024 Empire 8 Men's Cross Country Results
Geneseo - 20 points - League Champions
Brockport - 50 points
Houghton - 103 points
Nazareth - 104 points
Utica - 136 points
St. John Fisher - 153 points
Alfred - 212 points
Hartwick - 275 points
Poly - 278 points
Keuka - 314 points
Russell Sage - No Team Score
2024 Empire 8 Men's Cross Country Top-10 Finishers
Ryan Hagan - Geneseo - Individual Winner/Most Outstanding Runner
Charlie Wilson - Geneseo
Jonathan Zavala - Brockport
Austin Schoen - Geneseo
Bennett Melita - Utica
Alex Hillyard - Geneseo
Pierce Young - Geneseo
William Hall - Geneseo
Emerson Comer - Geneseo
Charlie Alekson - Brockport
2024 Empire 8 Men's Cross Country Returning All-Americans, All-Region & Major Award Winners
- Ethan Becker, SUNY Geneseo, So., Central Square, NY/Mexico - 2024 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
- Amos Bixler, Houghton, Sr., Dalton, OH/Central Christian - 2024 USTFCCCA All-Niagara Region, 2023 USTFCCCA All-Niagara Region
Emerson Comer, SUNY Geneseo, Jr., South Kortright, NY/South Kortright - 2024 NCAA Championship participant, 2024 USTFCCCA All-Niagara Region,
- Ryan Hagan, Geneseo, Sr., Liverpool, NY/Liverpool - 2024 USTFCCCA All-Niagara Region, 2024 NCAA Championship participant, 2024 Empire 8 Individual Champion, 2024 Empire 8 Most Outstanding Runner
Bennett Melita, Utica, Jr., Johnstown, NY/Fonda Fultonville - 2024 USTFCCCA All-Niagara Region, 2024 NCAA Championship participant, 2023 Empire 8 Co-Runner of the Year, 2023 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
- Pierce Young, SUNY Geneseo, Jr., Arkport, NY/Arkport - 2024 USTFCCCA All-Niagara Region, 2024 NCAA Championship participant