FREDONIA, N.Y. –  Gannon University junior Caleb Mandel (Harborcreek, Pa./Harbor Creek) picked up a season-opening win at Fredonia State's Kara Hall Memorial Invitational, completing the 6K race in 20:21.30, almost fifteen seconds faster than second-place Sembel Koshi (20:36.60) of Fredonia State. Mandel was joined in the top ten by fellow Golden Knights Ely Personius (Buffalo, N.Y./Amherst Central) (21:05.49, sixth place) and freshman Luke Malena (Medina, Ohio) (21:15.80, eighth place).
 
As a team, Gannon finished second of three competing institutions (42 total points, nine behind host Fredonia's 33 but ahead of third-place Mercyhurst's 53), with six runners finishing in the top 15 thanks to the trio of Gavyn Hansotte (New Castle, Pa./New Castle), Alex Chelton (Oil City, Pa./Cathedral Prep), and Jon Uhl (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) running together and claiming the 13^th to 15th spots.

The Knights' top five finishers completed the course in an average of 21:34 and a total time of 1:47:50. The race featured 30 total student-athletes, with 10 of them competing for Gannon University.

Final results for all of Gannon's runners:
 
1^st  -- Caleb Mandel (Harborcreek, Pa./Harbor Creek) – 20:21.30
6^th – Ely Personius (Buffalo, N.Y./Amherst Central) – 21:05.49
8^th – Luke Malena (Medina, Ohio) – 21:15.80
13^th – Gavyn Hansotte (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) – 22:33.61
14^th – Alex Chelton (Oil City, Pa./Cathedral Prep) – 22:34.29
15^th – Jon Uhl (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) – 22:41.88
18^th – John Insinna (Clarence Center, N.Y./Clarence) – 23:06.12
24^th – Jeremiah Vezza (Clearfield, Pa./Clearfield) – 24:23.72
26^th – Luke Andraso (Erie, Pa./Northwest Pa. Collegiate Academy) – 25:12.45
27^th – Carlos Mamani (Edinboro, Pa.) – 25:32.19

Next up on the schedule for the Golden Knights is the Division II/Division III Challenge, hosted by Kutztown University on Saturday, September 16 beginning at 5:00 p.m.