Abel Sets School 8K Record At Dutchman Invitational

LEBANON, Pa. -- One week after winning the Delaware Valley Invitational, Penn State Brandywine freshman Brian Abel (Amesbury, Mass./Amesbury) again made history, setting a new school record 8K time at Lebanon Valley College's Dutchman Invitational on Saturday.

Abel posted a time of 28:02, breaking the old record by 56 seconds. The previous benchmark was held by teammate Brendan Cleary (Chadds Ford, Pa./Garnet Valley), who ran to a time of 28:58 at the 2017 Blue Apple Invitational. Abel's time was 22nd-fastest among the 118-runner field at Union-Canal-Tunnel Park.

Leading the Brandywine women's team was Catharine Mooney (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley), who completed the 5K in 22:58, finishing 47th in a field of 138 competitors. Mooney, who ran the fifth-fastest 6K time in program history during her college debut last week, recorded Brandywine's second-fastest 5K time ever on Saturday.

John Li (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby), owner of six of the 10 fastest 8K times in Brandywine men's history, was the second Lion to cross the finish line, running to a time of 31:08. He placed 67th, while Ryan Cassidy (Aston, Pa./Sun Valley) ran the 79th fastest mark, finishing the 8K in 32:10.

Rachel McIntire (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East), making her debut with the Brandywine women's team, ran to a time of 23:48, while Aileen Flaherty (Ridley Park, Pa./Ridley) posted a time of 25:59.

Following a week off, Brandywine will face Penn State University Athletic Conference competition for the first time when it runs at the Penn State Mont Alto Invitational on Sept. 22.