CORTLAND, OH—The Western Reserve Academy boys cross country team ran in cool, overcast conditions at the 2026 Legends Meet in Cortland, Ohio, on Saturday, October 10, delivering a strong 9th-place overall finish against a competitive 54-school field. Positioned near the end of the regular season, the flat, fast course at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds gave the Pioneers an ideal opportunity to showcase their months of hard work.

Leading the way at the front of the pack—as he has for four straight years—senior team captain James Johnston '27 pushed through a mid-race injury to secure an impressive 12th-place finish. Demonstrating the leadership and determination that have made him a cornerstone of this program, Johnston poured every ounce he had into the race to spearhead the team's top-10 performance.

Fueled by Johnston's lead effort, the rest of the squad stepped up, with four Pioneers clocking lifetime personal records. Ian Fleming '27 delivered a standout performance, finishing 25th overall in a personal record time of 16:49.6—dipping well under the 17-minute barrier for the 3rd time this season, giving WRA a formidable 1-2 punch at the top. The steady and reliable Brendan Bennett '28 crossed as WRA's third runner, putting together a strong tactical race to finish 65th overall. Dominic Ilodi '30 continued his rapid progression, crossing the line in 18:13.5 for a new personal best. Tyson Edmunds '30 broke through with a career-best 18:40.5 to bolster the middle pack, while Daniel Randazzo '27 capped off the record-setting day with a new personal best. Junior Arav Mathur rounded out WRA's top seven to lock in the 9th-place team result.

Following the race, the boys immediately departed in separate directions for a well-deserved mid-fall break—a few even hopped into cars still wearing their race uniforms to catch flights. Ian and James didn't even have time to pose for official podium photos, though they made sure to collect their awards: a neon yellow pair of Nike running socks. It was a true testament to the life of dedicated boarding school athletes, balancing packed schedules and high achievement. They carved out the time and gave everything to their team and their sport—right up until the moment they had to dash off to the next adventure.

Full results here: https://gopherarun.com/results/live/101026hsbs.html

Note: Generative AI helped to draft this story. It was revised, reviewed and edited by the Boys' XC coaching staff.