ATTLEBORO, Mass. – A fifth-place finish from sophomore Brady Mullen in the men's 6k race highlighted Harvard cross country's 2026 season opener at the Friar Invitational, as both the Crimson's men's and women's teams found success at Highland Park in a preview of this year's Ivy League Heptagonal Cross Country Championships course.

A trio of Crimson first-years finished in the top 50 to lead Harvard to a ninth place finish with 220 points in the women's 4k race, as Mullen's top five showing propelled the men's team to fifth place with 133 points in the men's 6k race.

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS

• In her collegiate debut, first-year Aelo Curtis led the women's team's scoring efforts, as the Ventura, California native finished in a team-best 34^th place after running a 15:06.9 in the women's 4k race. Another Crimson debutant for the women's team, first-year Greta Hammer captured 43^rd place after crossing the finish line in 15:26.9.
• Two more Crimson would round out the top 50 in the women's 4k race. First-year Abby Downin ran a 15:34.1 to take 47^th place, as junior Abigail Sadler posted a 50^th place finish with a time of 15:35.0.
• First-year Siena Mackley earned a 58^th place finish after finishing the course in 15:42.8, as sophomores Ella Cohen (75^th place/16:17.6) and Callie Wallace (79^th place/16:35.4) rounded out Harvard's scoring in the women's 4k race.
• On the men's side, Mullen kickstarted his sophomore season in Cambridge by leading the Crimson in the men's 6k race with a fifth place finish, running a 18:15.8 in the process.
• First-years Baylor Miller and Nathan Lee also earned spots in the top 35 at Highland Park. A native of Goshen, Indiana, Miller posted a 18:47.3 to take 28^th place, while Lee finished in 32^nd place with a time of 18:53.8.
• Finishing with a time of 19:00.3, senior Ethan Aidam ended the men's 6k in 37^th place, while sophomore Eamon Gordon took another spot in the top 50, stopping the clock at 19:14.7 to take 48^th place.
• Junior William Brunner concluded Harvard's scoring in the men's 6k race, as the Vail, Colorado native posted a 19:21.6 to finish in 53^rd place.

UP NEXT

Harvard returns to the trails with a pair of meets on Saturday, Sept. 19, featuring at the Indiana State Invite and the Dartmouth Invite.  

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