HARTFORD, Conn. – The Manhattanville University cross country teams were in action for the first time in 2024 on Saturday as the Valiants were joined by 13 other institutions in the running of the University of Hartford Invitational. Six members of the men's squad ran the 5K and finished in 7^th place, while a pair of Valiants suited up on the women's side to compete in the 3K.

Joey DeMilio (White Plains, N.Y./White Plains) paced the men's team, taking 22^nd in the field of 122 with a time of 17:29. Zach Garrant (Poughkeepsie, NY/Spackenkill High School) was the next Valiant to cross the finish line with a time of 19:01.3 to place 55^th. Three more Valiants followed in the next 30 seconds, with Roberto Schneiger (New York, N.Y./Urban Academy Lab) and Darlig Delgado (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore Senior) finishing back-to-back, clocking in at 19:16.1 and 19:17.2, respectively, to take 62^nd and 63^rd. Soon after, Daniel Baldessarre (Highland Mills, N.Y./Monroe Woodbury) took 66^th to round out Manhattanville's scoring fivesome, crossing with a time of 19:27.8. While his finish did not factor into the team's placement, Matthew Friday (Bronx, N.Y./AECI Charter) also ran for the Valiants in the season-opening meet, earning a time of 25:24.9 to place 109^th.

On the women's side, Adelina Rodriguez () and Odalis Amado (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) represented the Valiants in the 91-woman race. The rookie Rodriguez made her collegiate debut on Saturday, placing 72^nd with a finish of 15:58.8. Amado opened up her junior campaign with a time of 17:53.2 to take 80^th place.

Up Next
The Valiants will once again compete against institutions across all three NCAA divisions next weekend when the teams head to Riverdale to run in the Manhattan Jasper Fall Invite on Sept. 14.

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