LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East is ready to begin the 2024 men’s cross-country season as 15 teams will compete in hopes of being crowned United East Champion.
Last year, Penn College edged out Lancaster Bible College 53-54 to claim the title, but the Wildcats and Chargers will have plenty of competition en route to the conference finals.
All 15 teams are slated to compete at the United East Championships on November 2, 2024, hosted by St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Check out the full schedule here: 2024 MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE
Pennsylvania College of Technology
(2023 Championship Finish: 1st - Score: 53)
The 2023 United East Champions return most of the roster in a bid to repeat in 2024. Head Coach Tom Leeser’s squad is deep and ready for 2024 with three First Team All-Conference awardees returning. Junior Mitchell Campbell finished 3rd at the 2023 United East championships (28:44.1) and set a new top time (26:30.8) at the Mid-Atlantic Regional. Junior Matthew Woolcock finished 6th at the United East Championships and ran 27:28.2 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional while senior Alec Rees finished 7th at the United East Championships and ran 27:17.6 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional. The Wildcats open the 2024 season with a cross-town duel against Lycoming College on September 3.
Coach’s Outlook: “Our men's team returns most of the group that won the conference championship last fall. in addition to our #1 - #3 runners, we will also have experience in the #4 - #6 slots with Chase Ebeling, Jacob Parker, and Holden Furey. I expect good competition at the top of the conference again this fall.” - Tom Leeser
Lancaster Bible College
(2023 Championship Finish: 2nd - Score: 54)
After a runner-up finish in 2023, Lancaster Bible returns a solid core looking for another podium finish in head coach Katy Latta’s fourth season leading the Chargers. Though three seniors have departed that team, senior Daniel Lefko returns after a 12th place finish and a Second Team All-Conference award. Sophomore’s Harry Gibson, Jay Royal, and Ryan Barthelemy will push to get into the scoring places in their second season of collegiate competition. The Chargers open the season on August 30th at Goucher College’s Baltimore Metro Meet and host the Charger Invitational on September 20th.
Coach’s Outlook: “After last season's exciting finish, we are looking forward with great anticipation to this upcoming season. Our team is working hard this summer and ready to be daring as we set our sights on November.” - Katy Latta
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
(2023 Championship Finish: 3rd - Score: 77)
The St. Mary’s (Md.) men finished third last season and head coach Reava Potter brings back an experienced squad looking for another podium finish. Senior Michael Wade finished 2nd place and earned a First Team All-Conference and three separate Runner of the Week awards. Senior Nate Norris returns after a Third Team All-Conference award off a Top 20 finish in the United East Championships while junior Kelly Bryne has a personal best of 28:57 last year. The Seahawks open the 2024 season at the University of Richmond’s Spider Alumni Open, host the Seahawk Classic in September, and will attend the Division III Pre-Nationals meet in Terre Haute, Indiana before hosting the United East Championships on November 2.
Coach’s Outlook: “Both (men’s and women’s) teams are young and have a lot of talent. I am excited to see how well they adjust and how far both teams go with the new additions and the returners.” - Reava Potter
Penn State Berks
(2023 Championship Finish: 4th - Score: 130)
Ryan Foster begins his second season with Penn State Berks cross country with a young team anticipating a strong finish in 2024. After a 4th place finish in 2023, best in school history, Penn State Berks will return Patrick O’Donnell who finished 4th in the 2023 United East Championships and earned a First Team All-Conference award. Sophomore Ben Carmen finished Top 30 at the conference championships and carded a time of 29:01 earlier in the season while classmate Amir Nutter-Smith looks to see continued improvement in 2024. Berks will open the 2024 season at the Dutchmen Invitational hosted by Lebanon Valley College on September 7.
Coach’s Outlook: “Whenever a team loses four of their top five runners, including the two best men's xc runners in school history, it hurts. However, this year we are deeper than we have been in a long time, which should help ease the pain. We have a strong incoming class of five freshmen that will help compliment returners Ben Carman and Amir Nutter-Smith. Ben exceeded everyone's expectations last year and should be a real threat to compete for one of the top spots in the conference. He should be pushed this season by local Exeter Township product Trent Jordan, who could draw some serious attention for rookie of the year. Amir has been steadily improving and when healthy, could contend to be one of our top runners. Last year we tied our best finish in school history and are poised to repeat or improve our finish.” - Ryan Foster
University of Valley Forge
(2023 Championship Finish: 5th - Score: 153)
Fresh off of a fifth-place finish in 2023, and a runner-up performance in 2022 while representing the CSAC, Valley Forge men’s cross country has an experienced core returning and will look to first-years for depth in scoring in Samantha David’s first season at the helm of her alma mater. Junior Paul Nadrowski returns off Second Team All-Conference award and a Top 10 finish in last year’s championship meet. Junior Nathaniel Gale and sophomore William Schmidheinl return from last season’s scoring team as well. The Patriots open on August 30 at The College of New Jersey’s Blue/Golf Invitational and visit United East members Penn State Abington and Bryn Athyn College for their home invitationals.
Coach’s Outlook: “I believe this is going to be an awesome season for the UVF Patriots. We have a large freshmen class making up over half of our Men's and Women's teams, while still retaining some of our key runners. We look forward to seeing the continued growth of our program and how our program stands in the United East conference this season!” - Samantha David
Gallaudet University
(2023 Championship Finish: 6th - Score: 189)
Head Coach Byron Moore begins his 11th season at the helm of Gallaudet University looking to build upon last season’s 6th place finish. Senior Jared Spinale is the top returner and a roster full of returners should keep the Bison ahead throughout the season. Gallaudet opens the season on September 13 at St. Mary’s (Md.) College’s Seahawk Classic and will visit Lancaster Bible for the Charger Invitational on September 20.
Coach’s Outlook: “Looking forward to having a fun season!” - Byron Moore
Cairn University
(2023 Championship Finish: 7th - Score: 204)
Jody Luther begins her second year as Head Coach with Cairn Cross Country with an experienced squad of men looking to take a step forward in 2024. Junior Titus Dingle was a top runner in the past but missed the majority of the 2023 season with an injury. Before injury his top time was 31:00.6. Senior Avian Hall returns after being a part of the scoring team at the Championships. Cairn opens the 2024 season at the Blue/Gold Invitational hosted by The College of New Jersey and will host the Highlander Invitational on campus September 5th.
Coach’s Outlook: “We anticipate this to be a growing year for our men's team. With 1 new freshman and several athletes new to the sport, we are looking forward to building this team and encouraging growth for the future.” - Jody Luther
Bryn Athyn College
(2023 Championship Finish: 9th - Score: 231)
Bryn Athyn men’s cross country will look to a strong upper-class presence and continued improvement of first-year individuals as head coach Jesse King’s squad enters the 2024 season. Senior Rafe Williams returns after finishing 11th in the 2023 United East Championships but is a two-time conference champion when Bryn Athyn competed in the CSAC. Senior Declan Williams and junior Chris Fox provide leadership and depth at the top of the scoring lineup. The Lions open the season on September 7 at Delaware Valley University’s Aggie Open and visit United East members St. Mary’s (Md.), Penn State Abington, Bryn Athyn College, and Cairn University’s home invitationals before the United East Championships in November.
Coach’s Outlook: “Men’s team looks to build depth and improve upon last year's performance. Rafe Williams looks to compete for the individual championship.” - Jesse King
Penn State Harrisburg
(2023 Championship Finish: 10th - Score: 252)
Ryan Hart begins his first season as Head Coach with Penn State Harrisburg Cross Country after serving as an assistant coach prior. Junior Jon Carnesti returns after a Top 25 finish at the 2023 United East Championships and an 8k-best of 29:22.1. Classmate Angel Patino and senior Tyler Price return for a lineup that will have some upperclassmen in key positions for a young team. The Nittany Lions open on September 6th at the Galen Piper XC Challenge on the campus of Shippensburg University.
Coach’s Outlook: “The 2024 cross country season will have the most robust men's roster in the history of Penn State Harrisburg XC. With the addition of eight incoming freshmen looking to make their mark in the United East Conference as well as the acquisition of a couple high performing transfers, the program is looking to shake up the conference this year.” - Ryan Hart
Penn State Abington
(2023 Championship Finish: 11th - Score: 258)
Michael Patterson begins his first season as head coach, after two seasons as an assistant, with Penn State Abington cross country. A young team will look to improve upon last season’s 11th place finish at the United East Championships with junior Marco Isabella leading the squad in 2024. A trio of juniors (Isaiah Torres, Nicholas Worrall, and Jacob McDonald), along with sophomore Ashvin Kohli rounded out the scoring group last season. The Nittany Lions open 2024 at Lebanon Valley College’s Dutchmen Invitational on September 7th before hosting the Abington Invitational on September 21st.
Coach’s Outlook: “My first year as head coach and I am looking for a year with individual successes as well as team success.” - Michael Patterson
Rosemont College
(2023 Championship Finish: 12th - Score: 258)
With a new coach in 2024, Rosemont College is looking for consistency this upcoming season.
Sophomore Micah Volpe earned Third Team All-Conference honors and classmates Chad Cloke and Nathan Howe also ran in the 2023 Championships, with Cloke finishing just outside of the All-Conference places. Upperclassmen Dominic Younger and LeoMarvin Abreu contributed to the team scoring squad in 2023 as well. The Ravens do not have a 2024 schedule posted at time of publishing but will work towards the United East Championships on November 2.
Coach’s Outlook:
Saint Elizabeth University
(2023 Championship Finish: NTS - Score: NTS)
Head Coach Evan Collier begins his first year leading Saint Elizabeth cross country after leading the track & field program in the spring. Last season, the Eagles didn’t have enough individuals to earn a team score, but four individuals (Jayden Hunter, Christopher Povemba, Tyler Monzo, and Jeffrey Guillen) represented the school at the United East Championships. Though no roster has been posted at the time of publication, the Eagles will continue to build their program in 2024.
Coach’s Outlook: “We’re excited for the upcoming cross-country season with our young and hungry team. While we’re still building experience, the enthusiasm and commitment our runners bring to each practice are promising. We’re focused on growth, both individually and as a team, and I believe we’ll see that hard work pay off as the season progresses.” - Evan Collier
Keystone College
Keystone College took the 2023 cross country season off but returned in 2024 with a small roster of individuals ready to compete. While a part of the CSAC, Keystone were conference champions in 2021 and earned a second-place finish in 2019. Senior Corey Schochin returns after a 7th place finish in the 2022 CSAC Championships. Two first-years, Ryan Semon and Teddie Smith, Jr., will work to rebuild the program in 2024 alongside alumnus David Strum, who takes charge of the program in 2024. Keystone opens the season on August 30 at the Misericordia Invitational.
Coach’s Outlook: “After this recent recruiting season, I am looking forward to the upcoming Cross Country season. I am excited to continue rebuilding the program and rekindle the Keystone College Cross Country tradition.” - David Strum
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Chris Humphrey begins his second season with Notre Dame of Maryland University with a full roster on the men’s side for the first time. Five first-years (Austin Barnes, Hunter Biel, Gavin Boughton, Carter Nocca, Jayden Saunders) will make up the first men’s cross-country team in Notre Dame of Maryland history.
Coach’s Outlook: “NDMU will have enough men to field a team this year and are looking forward to competing in 2024.” - Chris Humphrey
Penn State Brandywine
Entering their first season in the United East, and first in NCAA Division III, Penn State Brandywine will look to continue the success of the past decade in the USCAA as the Lions jump up to NCAA play under first-year head coach Myeisha Matos.
The Nittany Lions finished third in their conference championship last year and return sophomore John Finley who was an honorable mention in league and a qualifier for the USCAA National Championship meet. A rejuvenated roster will lead Brandywine into NCAA play beginning on September 21 at the Penn State Abington Invitational. Brandywine hosts their home invitational on October 5.
Coach’s Outlook: “As first year head coach and as a new member I am looking to transform our program and add key runners in the near future as we start our journey in the United East.” - Myeisha Matos
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The United East boasts 17 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Harrisburg, Rosemont College, Saint Elizabeth University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.