Teamwork was the name of the game for the Hillsdale College men's cross country team at Friday's Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational.

Hillsdale rode strong pack running to a runner-up finish in the open division, finishing with 60 points as just 20 seconds and 13 places separated the Chargers' top runner from their fifth in the final standings.

Sophomore John Richardson led Hillsdale with a 19th place finish in a new collegiate best time of 25:06.67, and the Chargers also benefited heavily from a massive improvement by freshman Eli Strawbridge, who cut nearly a full minute off his first collegiate 8K race to finish in 25:09.10 and in 20th, just behind Richardson.

Senior Caleb Youngstedt was also a critical part of the pack, placing 21st in 25:11.3. Sophomore Jefferson Regitz took 29th in a collegiate best time of 25:20.86 as well for Hillsdale, and junior Will Winsor placed 32nd in a collegiate best time of 25:26.89 to round out Hillsdale's scoring runners.

Two more freshmen placed for Hillsdale, with Grant Skorupan taking 44th in 25:48.79 thanks to a strong kick, and Oliver Garber placing 70th in 26:15.28. 

The Chargers have one more meet on the calendar before the G-MAC Championships on Nov. 7, as Hillsdale travels to New Boston, Michigan for the Warrior Challenge on Oct. 24 and one final tune-up race before championship season begins in earnest.