FAIRVIEW, Pa. – For the second year in a row, a Gannon men's cross country runner claimed first place in the individual race in the season-opening Race in the Park on Friday at Pleasant Ridge Park.
 
Junior Luke Malena (Medina, Ohio/Cloverleaf) took the lead with about a mile to go in the 6K race, pulled away coming down the final hill and finished in a winning time of 18:47.9. Senior Ely Personius (Buffalo, N.Y./Amherst Central), who won the race in 2023, placed second this time in 18:54.9.
 
The efforts of Malena and Personius helped Gannon finish second in the team race to a talented Walsh team, which compiled a team score of 30. GU had 36, while third-place Mercyhurst compiled 65.
 
The season-opening home event also served as Senior Day for Gannon. The Golden Knights honored seniors Gavyn Hansotte (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) and Adam Kanterman (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley), while Octavia Kosnik and Elissa Scheel were recognized from the women's team. Hansotte also celebrated his birthday as the entire crowd sang "Happy Birthday" after his Senior Day recognition.
 
Gannon's next three finishers were freshmen: Bradyn Rusch (Valley View, Ohio/Cuyahoga Heights) (7th, 19:37.7), Robert Tang (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) (12th, 19:55.8), and Ethan Boots (Poland, Ohio/Boardman) (14th, 20:14.9).
 
Team scores:

1. Walsh 30
2. Gannon 36
3. Mercyhurst 65
 
Top-five finishers
1. Luke Malena (Medina, Ohio/Cloverleaf), Gannon, 18:47.9
2. Ely Personius (Buffalo, N.Y./Amherst Central), Gannon, 18:54.9
3. Michael Nicholls, Walsh, 18:57.6
4. Thomas Nelson, Walsh. 19:05.6           
5. Brody Pumneo, Walsh. 19:14.1
 
Gannon runners:
1. Luke Malena (Medina, Ohio/Cloverleaf), 18:47.9
2. Ely Personius (Buffalo, N.Y./Amherst Central), 18:54.9
7. Bradyn Rusch (Valley View, Ohio/Cuyahoga Heights), 19:37.7
12. Robert Tang (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) 19:55.8
14. Ethan Boots (Poland, Ohio/Boardman) 20:14.9
16. Lauge Rasmussen (Virum, Denmark/Oregard Gynbasium), 20:19.5  
20. Adam Kanterman (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley), 20:35.9   
26. Alex Mitterer (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny), 21:15.3            
27. Jonathan Hansford (Knox, Pa./Keystone), 21:20.5
28. Luke Andraso (Erie, Pa./Northwest Pa. Collegiate Academy / Erie), 21:47.8
30. Braden Donovan (North Versailles, Pa./Serra Catholic), 22:14.6    
31. Gavyn Hansotte (New Castle, Pa./New Castle), 22:46.2      
32. Daniel Van Der Westhuizen, 22:46.8