kevin shank - 2024 richmond meet
Brian McWalters | RoadWin Photos

Men's Cross Country

Men’s Cross Country opens season strong in Richmond

RICHMOND, Va. – The VMI men's cross country team got off to a strong start to the 2024 season by placing fifth overall at the Spider Alumni Open hosted by the University of Richmond Saturday morning at Pole Green Park in Richmond, Virginia.

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The Keydets came in fifth with 170 points on the day to beat out Christopher Newport (200), George Mason (205), VCU (207) and a handful of other schools. The University of Virginia placed first with 15 points followed by American (67), William & Mary (80) and Richmond (83).
 
Sophomores Kevin Shank and Patrick Lowry led the way for VMI with respective 23rd (18:52) and 30th-place (19:06) finishes for the 6K race. Benjamin Hagerich was the third VMI finisher in 32nd place (19:08), while freshman Luke Gaylor (58th, 19:44) and senior Brian Tavenner (81st, 20:18) also scored team points for the Keydets.
 
Shank continues as VMI's top runner following an outstanding freshman campaign in 2023 and opened up this race with a personal-best 6K time of almost 10 seconds.  Every runner in VMI's top seven finishers also earned respective personal-best times.  
 
Senior Patrick Kiernan arrived in 84th overall in 20:20 and was pursued closely by freshman newcomer Peter Fiorillo in 91st in 20:41. Freshman Jack Geisendaffer and sophomores Colin Crenshaw and Michael Kelley rounded out the top 10 runners for VMI.
 
Nine other Keydet men competed to represent the Institute well with their finishes reflected below.
 
VMI Head Cross Country Coach Mathew Scott
"It was a great season opener. Our men beat three Division 1 teams in George Mason, VCU and Longwood.  We have some great potential with good performances on the men's side.  We improved from ninth place last year to fifth place this year only being bested by teams that are regionally and nationally ranked. It's a great foundation for future competition. The men's 1-5 gap is in the range of 1:23, which is just shy of our team goal of 60 seconds."  
 
Up Next
The Keydets have two weeks to prepare for the Furman Invitational set for September 14 in Greenville, South Carolina.
 
 
 
Men's Team Finishes
1 - Virginia - 15
2 - American - 67
3 - William & Mary - 80
4 - Richmond - 83
5 - VMI – 170
6 - Christopher Newport - 200
7 - George Mason - 205
8 - VCU - 207
9 - Longwood - 229
10 - Mary Washington - 288
+ 4 others
 
VMI Men's Finishes
23 - Kevin Shank - 18:52
30 - Patrick Lowry - 19:06
32 - Benjamin Hagerich - 19:08
58 - Luke Gaylor - 19:44
81 - Brian Tavenner - 20:18
84 - Patrick Kiernan - 20:20
91 - Peter Fiorillo - 20:41
95 - Jack Geisendaffer - 20:44
99 - Colin Crenshaw - 21:03
104 - Michael Kelley - 21:12
107 - Sullivan McGreevy - 21:28
120 - James Gao - 22:04
129 - Rye Jackson - 22:41
130 - Schuyler Nitzsche - 22:42
136 - Aidan Zagorski - 22:51
138 - Camden Gonzales - 22:55
141 - Nicholas Ligday - 23:01
147 - Matthew Sterbenz - 23:57
148 - Ethan Sharkey - 23:57
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




 
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Players Mentioned

Colin Crenshaw

Colin Crenshaw

Sophomore
Michael Kelley

Michael Kelley

Sophomore
Patrick Kiernan

Patrick Kiernan

Senior
Nicholas Ligday

Nicholas Ligday

6' 0"
Junior
Patrick Lowry

Patrick Lowry

Sophomore
Kevin Shank

Kevin Shank

Sophomore
Brian Tavenner

Brian Tavenner

Senior
Peter Fiorillo

Peter Fiorillo

Freshman
Luke Gaylor

Luke Gaylor

Freshman
James Gao

James Gao

Freshman

Players Mentioned

Colin Crenshaw

Colin Crenshaw

Sophomore
Michael Kelley

Michael Kelley

Sophomore
Patrick Kiernan

Patrick Kiernan

Senior
Nicholas Ligday

Nicholas Ligday

6' 0"
Junior
Patrick Lowry

Patrick Lowry

Sophomore
Kevin Shank

Kevin Shank

Sophomore
Brian Tavenner

Brian Tavenner

Senior
Peter Fiorillo

Peter Fiorillo

Freshman
Luke Gaylor

Luke Gaylor

Freshman
James Gao

James Gao

Freshman