ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. -- It's been close before, but finally the Elizabethtown College men's cross country alumni team beat the Blue Jays at the annual Blue Jay Alumni Challenge on Saturday. Recent graduates Samuel Gerstenbacher, Christian Schaaf, and Christopher Myers helped lead the way for the alumni team as they snuck by Etown, 25-32. Daniel Myers was the top finisher for the Jays.

The top trio for the alumni team left no doubt as they all nearly ran five minute mile pace or under. Gerstenbacher did, in fact, averaging a 4:56.6 pace to take the top spot in 13:49.10. Schaaf, who competed at the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in May and the 2021 XC Championships last November, seemed to pick up where he left off. He was the runner-up in 13:59.80.

The eldest Myers on the course finished just ahead of younger Myers. Christopher was third overall in 14:05.90, while brother Daniel was fourth in 14:07.50.

Nick Garrett placed fifth in 14:21.30 and Christian Gingrich was sixth in 14:32.30. Adam Harriger helped the alumni team's cause with his seventh-place run. The Blue Jays then took eighth through 15th before Andrew Pizzirusso's 16th-place finish for the alums.

The damage was done early as the 1-2-3 for the alumni team did the trick, helping them beat Elizabethtown for the first time.

The Blue Jays will compete at the Main Line Invitational hosted by Haverford on Friday, September 16, at 5 p.m.