STONY BROOK, N.Y.- The Stony Brook University men's cross-country team started the 2024 season with a bang, en route to emphatic victory at the Stony Brook season opener on Saturday morning. The Seawolves set the course ablaze, collecting 19 points and a first-place finish in the 6K race, with five individual runners finishing inside the top-six.

Collin Gilstrap was the event's top performer, winning the 6K race with a time of 19:08.40, seven seconds faster than second place. Henry Gartner (19:27.70) finished third, Michael Hawkes followed behind Gartner, taking fourth. Nick Tardugno, fifth, and Steven Struk, sixth, rounded out Stony Brook's top-10 performers. 

Four more Seawolves registered top-20 finishes, with Paul Abeln (11th), Michael Fama (12th), Luca Maneri (14th), and Chris Tardugno (17th).

HIGHLIGHTS 
 

• Gilstrap, the reigning CAA Rookie of the Year, starts his sophomore campaign with a first-place finish. He posted an average mile time of 5:08, an event best. The win marks the first of Gilstrap's career. 
• Gartner grabbed third place, posting an average mile of 5:13. 
• Hawkes placed fourth with an average mile time of 5:13. 
• Tardugno (5th) and Struk (6th) rounded out the Seawolves' top-six finishes. 
• Today's team win makes it five consecutive wins for the Seawolves at the Stony Brook Season Opener. 

QUOTES FROM THE SEAWOLVES 

"It was a nice opening day for both squads, led by strong individual runs by Collin and Grace," head coach Andy Ronan said. "A lot to be encouraged about, but we have plenty of work to do to be ready in November for the championship part of our season."

For an inside look at the Seawolves cross country program, be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.