I. Lanoy finishes as Thundering Herd Invitational Runner-Up, Trevor Lanoy fourth in rundown

HUNTINGTON, W. Va. -- Prior to the start of the 2024 season, second-year Shawnee State Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Conner Flynn had nothing but praise for Lancaster natives and standout runners Isaiah Lanoy and Trevor Lanoy for their work during the offseason.

The duo proved Flynn right in Friday's season-opening meet at the Thundering Herd Invitational in Huntington, W. Va., as the pair quickly established front-running position within the first mile of the 5K race and stayed there throughout.

Isaiah Lanoy finished second while Trevor Lanoy finished fourth in a 68-runner field, outlasting 30 and 29 NCAA Division I runners, respectively -- and temperatures that were well above 90 degrees even past 7 p.m. to do so, helping the Shawnee State men's cross country program finish fourth from a team perspective at the Kennedy YMCA Center in Huntington, W. Va.

Isaiah, who ran a 15:25.9, proved to be one of just three runners to break 15:30 in the competitive 5K race, which saw 19 men run under the 16-minute mark. In doing so, Isaiah Lanoy continues to improve and impress following a spring that resulted in a 3,000 meter steeplechase NAIA National Championship qualification. Trevor, who ran a 15:31.2, appears to be well en route to making similar improvements.

Dylan French, who posted a 15:54, continued building on a strong offseason that resulted in French finishing well inside the top quarter of the field in Friday's race. French bettered 24 NCAA Division I runners with his time on Friday.

"Isaiah and Trevor both had very good days," Flynn said. "Both placing top-five against quality competition was great. They battled and led their team. Dylan is in a good place, and I expect great things from him moving forward."

In his first race for Shawnee State, Caden LaRue enjoyed a solid outing, placing 32nd of 69 runners and notching a 16:49.9 in doing so to better 14 NCAA Division I harriers. Jerry O'Dell and Rowen Lloyd finished 35th and 36th, finishing mere inches apart as O'Dell's 16:59.6 edged Lloyd's 16:59.8. Both bettered a dozen NCAA Division I competitors with their performances.

Connor Darnell, who notched a 17:14.2, and Aidan Judd, who nabbed a 17:17.9, came across the line in 43rd and 44th place, respectively, to complete Shawnee State's top runners in the 5K.

Behind the duo, Garrett Carver's 17:38.8 (50th), Jacob Naumovski's 17:55.7 (55th), Luke Butler's 17:58.5 (57th), and Jared Flowers' 19:13.4 (64th) rounded out the competitors for the Bears on Friday.

"Our men's team has work to do, but that's why the season is 15 weeks long," Flynn said. "We are in a good place, but we know that we have the pieces to be in a much better place. I am confident that we will be there."

The men's cross country program, along with the women's cross country program, will held to Marion, Ind. next Friday for the Indiana Wesleyan University Twilight Invitational. Meet time starts at 6:30 p.m.