The Wabash College cross country team began the season with an eighth-place finish out of 21 teams on Saturday at the Franklin College Grizzly Invitational in Shelbyville, Indiana.
 
The Little Giants claimed three top-50 finishes out of 325 total runners. Wabash scored 222 points to finish eighth, just behind DePauw University in sixth (157 points) and Manchester University in seventh (193 points). Trine University won the invite with 83 points.
 
Brayden Curnutt achieved the top effort for the Little Giants over the 8,000-meter course, turning in a sixth-place finish overall. The senior ran 25:33.2, beating national qualifiers from last year. Senior Jacob Sitzman placed 36th with a time of 26:34.7. Junior Haiden Diemer-McKinney ran 26:55.0 to capture 50th overall.
 
Senior Justin Santiago scored a 91st-place finish with an effort of 27:36.8. Freshman Alex Orihuela rounded out the team scoring in 106th place, crossing the line in 27:50.3 for his first collegiate race.
 
Sophomore David Adesanya set a new personal best in the 8,000-meter distance, running 28:22.5 to secure 146th place. Freshman Johnathan Loney wrapped up the top seven for his collegiate debut in 168th place, turning in a time of 28:48.5.
 
The team will travel to compete at the Gil Dodds Invitational hosted by Wheaton College (Illinois) on Saturday, September 21st.