The Gannon men's cross country team returns four of its top five runners from the 2023 season, including all-region performer Ely Personius (Buffalo, N.Y./Amherst Central).

With a solid core returning and a strong incoming class, the Golden Knights look to combine experience from its upperclassmen with contributions from its younger talent to contend for a top spot in the PSAC this upcoming 2024 season.

"It's definitely a really exciting year for our men's team," said third-year head coach Rob Ahrens. "A lot of new runners are coming in and joining the team with a lot of new energy they bring as well."

The Golden Knights have a strong nucleus of runners returning with six runners back: Luke Andraso (Erie, Pa./Northwest Pa. Collegiate Academy / Erie), Gavyn Hansotte (New Castle, Pa./New Castle), Adam Kanterman (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley), Luke Malena (Medina, Ohio/Cloverleaf), Ely Personius (Buffalo, N.Y./Amherst Central), and Lauge Rasmussen (Virum, Denmark/Oregard Gynbasium).  

Gannon will be led by graduate student and team-captain Personius, who earned all-region honors after finishing 22nd during last season's Atlantic Regional.

Junior Luke Malena (Medina, Ohio/Cloverleaf) moved up 29 spots to come in 39th at last year's conference championship. Malena also added a 55th-place finish at the Atlantic Regional as well.

Senior Adam Kanterman (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley) placed 58th while Lauge Rasmussen (Virum, Denmark/Oregard Gynbasium), now a sophomore, finished 89th at the PSAC Championships.

Ahrens welcomes seven incoming runners to his program: Ethan Boots (Poland, Ohio/Boardman), Braden Donovan (North Versailles, Pa./Serra Catholic), Jonathan Hansford (Knox, Pa./Keystone), Alex Mitterer (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny), Bradyn Rusch (Valley View, Ohio/Cuyahoga Heights), Robert Tang (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon), and Daniel Van der Westhuizen (Roodepoort, South Africa/King Edward the Seventh).

"We have an outstanding group of men joining our team this fall," said Ahrens. "This is a group that we have been working with for a long time. They will give us great depth and help us take a big step forward as a team this fall. These men will make an instant impact this year and have the opportunity to transform the program as they continue to develop."

With seven freshmen added to the mix of a strong veteran group, the Golden Knights could be in for an interesting 2024 season.

"It's a really exciting opportunity," Ahrens said. "I think that we have to do some things that are above or better than we did last year."
 
The 2024 PSAC Championships are set for Saturday, October 26, with Kutztown as the host. Last year, the Golden Knights finished 12th, with Caleb Mandel (Harborcreek, Pa./Harbor Creek) earning second-team All-PSAC honors after finishing 30th.

Gannon will look to qualify for the NCAA Division II National Championships on Saturday, November 9, when Lock Haven hosts the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional.
 
Gannon opens the 2024 season with the annual home meet in the Race in the Park on Friday, September 6. The meet will take place at Pleasant Ridge Park in Fairview and will feature Mercyhurst and Walsh. The men's race will cover 6K while the women will 4K.
 
"We are in a position to take some big steps forward in terms of our placement at the championship meets," Ahrens said. "Our goal is to place higher than we did last year, and really start to climb up those standings as we move forward and progress as a program."



 
2023 Results (Returners in Bold)

PSAC Championships: 12th
30. Caleb Mandel (Harborcreek, Pa./Harbor Creek) - 27:32.7 (Second-Team All-PSAC)
39. Luke Malena (Medina, Ohio/Cloverleaf) – 27:59.6
58. Adam Kanterman (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley) – 28.22.9
89. Lauge Rasmussen (Virum, Denmark/Oregard Gynbasium) – 29:32.0
111. Jeremiah Vezza (Clearfield, Pa./Clearfield) (Clearfield, Pa./Clearfield) – 30.40.4
120. Gavyn Hansotte (New Castle, Pa./New Castle)  – 31:09.4
124. Luke Andraso (Erie, Pa./Northwest Pa. Collegiate Academy / Erie) – 31.24.3
 
Atlantic Regional: 13th
22. Ely Personius (Buffalo, N.Y./Amherst Central) – 31:19.6 (All-Region)
53. Luke Malena (Medina, Ohio/Cloverleaf) – 32:34.6
55. Caleb Mandel (Harborcreek, Pa./Harbor Creek) – 32:35.3
94. Adam Kanterman (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley) – 33:46.0
121. Jeremiah Vezza (Clearfield, Pa./Clearfield) - 35:01.1
137. Gavyn Hansotte (New Castle, Pa./New Castle)– 36:47.9
 

2024 AT A GLANCE

Coach: Rob Ahrens (3 rd season)
Team Captains: Ely Personius (Buffalo, N.Y./Amherst Central) and Gavyn Hansotte (New Castle, Pa./New Castle)
PSAC Preseason Poll: 10th
Season Opener: Friday, September 6, 5:30 p.m., Race in the Park – Fairview, Pa.
PSAC Championships: Saturday, October 26, hosted by Kutztown
NCAA Atlantic Regional: Saturday, November 9, hosted by Lock Haven