The Spire

Nora Kelly ‘27

Staff Writer

The Holy Cross men’s and women’s cross country teams started their respective seasons off with a bang in the recent Wheaton and Babson Season Opener, which took place on Aug. 31 at Highland Park. The Crusader men’s team faced eight other schools including Bridgewater State University, Brandeis University, Babson College, and Stonehill College. 

Holy Cross finished in first place, earning a total of 32 points. Stonehill (85 points) followed close behind in second place, and Brandeis (94 points) finished third. Holy Cross sophomore Joseph Mahon (Woburn, MA) finished in 15:49:69 on the five kilometer course, and was the men’s division individual champion. Holy Cross first-year Joey Ryan (Lexington, MA) earned second place at 15:54.84. 

The Crusader women’s cross country team faced Brandeis, Babson, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, and Suffolk University among four other schools. The Crusaders again secured first place in the nine-school line-up, earning 32 points total. Senior captains- Abby Hughes (Windham, NH) and Caroline Gage from Severna Park, Maryland- took second and fourth place with their respective times of 11:23.12 and 11:41.04. 

The remainder of the women’s team placed in the following order: Shannon Kelly in 7th (11:48.24), Anna Stolarick in 10th (12:00.68), Chloe Dibb in 14th (12:03.31), Abby Granrath 15th (12:03.37), Meryl Sullivan in 18th (12:06.75), Lauren Hughes in 19th (12:11.23), Brigid Purcell in 23rd (12:16.43), Sheila Purcell in 27th (12:24.24), Siena Brunetti in 37th (12:35.84), Olivia Pickett in 43rd (12:53.40), and Grace Bateman in 55th (13:29.96). Holy Cross was followed by Suffolk University (57 points) and Brandeis University (82 points) to round out the top three spots.

Both teams again competed in the Shawn M. Nassaney Invitational this past Saturday on

Sept. 7th. At this meet, taking place in Smithfield, RI, the Holy Cross men’s

cross country team went up against six other schools and the women’s cross country team, seven.

Both teams competed on a five-kilometer course; the women’s team placed fifth with 105 points, and the men’s team placed sixth with 136 points. Senior Abby Hughes was again a top finisher for the women’s team with her time of 18:47.8, and first-year Joey Ryan finished with an impressive time of 15:49.68 for the men’s team. 

The women’s team competitors finished in the following order: Abby Hughes in 3rd (18:47.8), Caroline Gage in 14th (19:27.7), Shannon Kelly in 28th (19:57.1), Abby Granrath in 29th (19:59.8), Meryl Sullivan in 31st (20:04.6), Brigid Purcell in 38th (20:22.7), Sheila Purcell in 39th (20:24.7), Siena Brunetti in 43rd (20:30.3), Chloe Dibb in 45th (20:36.3), Anna Stolarick in 49th (20:56.7), and Olivia Pickett in 56th (21:15.2). 

The men’s team finished in the order of: Joey Ryan in 5th (15:55.0), Robert Foster in 29th (16:35.2), Michael Cahill in 34th (16:41.0), Jack Larkin in 45th (17:03.1), and Quinn Salmon in 49th (17:10.0). In order, the remainder of the men’s team placed as follows: Liam Lyons in 6th (16:08.40), William Schimitsch in 7th (16:08.87), Quinn Salmon in 16th (16:28.10), Michael Cahill in 21st (16:41.67), Robert Foster in 37th (16:53.37), Sam Baker in 42nd (17:01.97), and Jack Larkin in 50th (17:29.43).

Both teams will compete again soon at the University of Massachusetts– Dartmouth Invitational in North Dartmouth, MA. on Saturday, Sept. 21.

Featured image courtesy of Holy Cross Athletics

Copy Edited by Sophia Mariani ’26