ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. - Bard collided with Liberty League titans and miscellaneous surrounding New York schools at home, with twelve total teams racing five kilometers under the brilliant mid-day sun at Montgomery Place. 

Bard women collected 176 points to place 7th overall; Bard men ended in 8th with 202 points. The opener for Bard at home is a precursor to the Liberty League conference championship, which will be held at Montgomery Place on October 31st. Notable Liberty League schools such as RPI, Vassar, and Union will make the journey to Bard's lush campus to preview the course come Halloween.  

Bard's women's team acquired two first-years over the summer, Ceili Irving and Luca Foty, who were Bard's first and second placers today. Irving went out strong, her eyes on the lead pack by the first turn, coming through 600m at 2:30. She held on to her top position through the finish, crossing the line in 21:51.2, representing first for Bard and 22nd overall. Foty was less than a second behind Irving coming through 600m, but was hit harder by the infamous back hills. The disparity between her first and second mile splits represents how taxing Montgomery Place can be behind the mansion; Foty is nearly a minute and a half slower through the second mile, not uncommon for Bard's course. Foty rallied back hard, finishing in 23:29.5 for 39th place. Rounding out the top 50 is returning senior Anna Shtandenko, the Bard Women's Cross Country Program Award Winner for 2025. Shtandenko missed last track season, as she was studying abroad in New York City, but is back and building fitness for Cross Country. Shtandenko just squeezed under the 25-minute mark with a 24:57.5, good for 50th place.  

Making up 6th-9th is an inseparable pack, with every kind of runner. Alex Laskowski, Kai Roper, Emma St. Peter, and Adeline Kruk packed up together for the majority of the race, until St. Peter made a break between the first and second mile splits, taking Laskowski in tow. They all reconnected by the 2.6-mile marker, but Laskowski again had more hill strength, pulling away from the group to finish in 25:27.3 and 53rd place. Just behind, Roper and St. Peter placed 56th and 57th with times of 25:37.5 and 25:38.6, respectively. Only five seconds later, Kruk made it across the line in 25:43.1, putting her at 59th. Laskowski remarks on the strength of running together: "[We] stuck close together using our different strengths to motivate and push each other throughout the race." Finishing out the women's side, Senior Madeline Clark returns to place 81st, with a time of 35:19.4, with fairly even splits down the board.  

On the men's side, Bard is noticeably missing 2025 Men's Cross Country Program Award Winner, Elijah Flynn, as he recovers from an unidentified knee issue. Taking up the mantle is first-year Colin Buttitta, who takes the race out strong, pacing with Liberty League powerhouse RPI. He crosses the first mile in 5:07.1, for which he comments: "I think that's a new mile PR for me," Buttitta holds on well over the hills, splitting 5:43.1 for his second mile, and kicking it into the finish line at 18:03.2, 41st and Bard's only top-50 finish on the men's side. 

Not far behind, two juniors and a first-year stay together all the way through 2.6 miles. Kariuki Massio, Charlie Grenadier, and newcomer Chris Eskrett come in 52nd, 53rd, and 56th. Massio is an 800 runner during the track season, who opts into Cross Country to build fitness. He shows incredible promise this weekend with an 18:22.1. Grenadier fights to the finish at 18:24.6, which he credits to his summer training block. Eskrett makes a very strong Bard debut with a clean 18:30.0, rounding out Bard's chase pack. Calvin Thomas runs five kilometers in 19:15.2, good for 72nd. Johnny Henriquez and Hameed Azad run such a similar mark that the timing software places them both at 95th, and both with 20:59.3. They took different paths to get there, Henriquez starting slower and finishing faster, and Azad with a strong start and a gritty finish. 

Most notable today are the four first-years stepping up to take top spots. Irving, Foty, Buttitta, and Eskrett represent a powerful front for this season and beyond. Head Coach Brody Smith gets to relax after a stressful weekend holding a home meet. Everyone is optimistic about the future, excited to compete and make strong showings at future events. The juniors and seniors of the team recognize how monumental it is for Bard to have full scoring teams on either side, and a genuine chance to break into the upper ranks of the Liberty League conference. The future has come much faster than anyone can imagine. 

Bard Cross Country returns next weekend, September 12th, for the Ron Stonitsch Invitational at Vassar College.  

WXC 7th out of 12
Ceili Irving 21:51.2
Luca Foty 23:29.5
Anna Shtandenko 24:57.5
Alex Laskowski 25:27.3
Kai Roper 25:37.5
Emma St. Peter 25:38.6
Adeline Kruk 25:43.1
Madeline Clark 35:19.4

MXC 8th out of 12 
Colin Buttitta 18:03.2
Kariuki Massio 18:22.1
Charlie Grenadier 18:24.6
Chris Eskrett 18:30.0
Calvin Thomas 19:15.2
Hameed Azad 20:59.3
Johnny Henriquez 20:59.3