CORTLAND, N.Y. – Senior Kyle O'Brien (Monroe/Monroe-Woodbury) finished second overall and first among Division III competitors at the first-ever Jack Daniels Invitational, hosted by Cortland on Saturday.

O'Brien finished the 8,000-meter course in 25:58.92, trailing only Syracuse's James Murdoch, who won the race in 25:42.77. A total of 56 runners competed. Fredonia St. won the team title with 33 points, followed by Oneonta (38), Cortland (55) and Buffalo St. (120). Cortland, which rested some of its top runners, is ranked second nationally in Division III.

Junior Brendan Brethel (Lynbrook) finished ninth overall and was the seventh collegiate finisher in 27:00.81. Freshman Tom Hopkins (Syracuse/West Genesee) placed 16th in 27:38.69, freshman Patrick Fannon (West Islip) was 20th (27:54.89) and senior Silas Carey (Delhi/Delaware Academy) finished 21st (27:55.91).

Jack Daniels coached Cortland's men's team for 17 seasons in a 19-year span from 1986-2004 and the women's team for 16 years in an 18-year span from 1987-2004. He is scheduled to return to campus on Oct. 30 when Cortland celebrates its seven NCAA Div. III women's championship teams that he coached (1989, 90, 92, 93, 94, 95, 97).


(complete results)