GENEVA, N.Y. – The Union College men's cross country team matched the best finish in program history and earned a program-record three All-Conference honorees at the 2023 Liberty League Championships, taking fourth place out of nine teams at Seneca Lake State Park on Saturday morning.
 
The Garnet Chargers finished behind three regionally ranked squads on Saturday, posting a team score of 114 to take fourth in the nine-team field. Union last finished fourth at the conference meet in 1998, when the field consisted of only six conference teams.
 
The team was led by three All-Conference honorees, the most in a single-season in program history and nearly matching the program's four honors since 2006. Junior Ryan Russell placed 13th out of 104 runners to earn All-Liberty League second-team recognition, Union's highest finish at the conference meet since Justin Zorn '17 placed eighth in 2015. He crossed the line in 25:28.7, eight seconds off his personal-best 8K time.
 
He was joined by senior Charlie Alekson and junior Ben Neff, both of whom ran to All-Liberty League honorable mention. Neff crossed the finish line 18th with a time of 25:44.0, while Alekson posted a huge personal-best time of 25:52.8, shaving 10 seconds off his previous season best to earn 21st place.
 
Senior Ben Trantanella also helped the Union cause with a 30th-place finish, traversing the 8K course in 26:10.4. Sophomore Will Plante rounded out Union's scoring quintet with a time of 26:54.1, good for 50th place overall.
 
Union will take next week off from competition as the team gears up for the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships, which take place at Westfield State University's Stanley Park on November 11.
 
Complete Union Results:
Ryan Russell – 25.28.7
Ben Neff – 25:44.0
Charlie Alekson – 25:52.8
Ben Trantanella – 26:10.4
Will Plante – 26:54.1
Aiden Rowley – 27:32.0
Mark D'Alessandro – 27:34.0
Thomas Breimer – 27:48.4
Michael Fitzmaurice – 27:56.1
Jackson Klehr – 28:36.1