The Siena Men's and Women's Cross-Country teams kicked off their 2025 seasons at the Marist Season Opener at Vassar Farms in Poughkeepsie on Saturday morning.

While not all Saints' runners competed, it provided an ample opportunity to test out their legs in the first competition of the season.

Both Siena teams placed fifth in the standings.

Host Marist, who was projected fifth in the MAAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll, surprised the field with a first-place finish with a score of 34. Marist freshman Isaac Gross led the way with a first-place overall finish with a time of 19:19.7. 

MAAC Preseason Favorite Iona, who entered ranked third regionally in the Northeast Region, finished in second place with 54. 

UAlbany was third with 56 followed by Fairfield (73) and Siena (155).  

In the men's 6K race, the Saints ran together a pack finishing in spots 29 through 35 with junior Marcus Homa finishing with the top time at 21:21.8.  The tight bunch included junior Connor Thomas (21:21.9), graduate student Collin Clinton (21:22.0), junior Cormac Leahy (21:22.3), senior Brody Santagata (21:22.3), sophomore Evan Wattie (21:22.5) and graduate student Luke Tkaczyk (21:23.8). 

In the women's 5K race, host Marist completed the sweep by also winning with a top score of 30. 

Marist was chosen fifth in the Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll. 

Fairfield came in second place (40), followed by Iona (85), UAlbany (94) and Siena (104) rounded out the top five. Red Foxes senior Parker O'Brien had the top time at 18:51.4. 

On the women's side, a group of four ran together with senior Julianna Tourangeau, senior Mattingly O'Rourke, senior Chloe Poulos and junior Faith Skowvron all running between the 18^th and 21^st positions, junior Marissa Navarra was in 26^th while juniors Olivia Armenia and Olivia Schaffer were placed 31^st and 32^nd. 

Siena takes back to the course on Saturday, September 13 at the Jasper Invite hosted by Manhattan University in Montgomery, NY at Twin Ponds on the Farm at 9 a.m., which will once again be the site of the 2025 MAAC Cross Country Championships on Nov. 1.