COLD SPRING, Minn. – Cadyn Vanderwal (Ortonville, MN/Ortonville High School) finished sixth in his first collegiate 8-kilometer race to lead The College of St. Scholastica men's cross country team at the Toni St. Pierre Invitational on Friday evening at River Oaks Golf Club.

Vanderwal clocked 26:07.7, the second-fastest 8K debut in program history, to become the Saints' 10th-fastest runner all-time at the distance. He and seven fellow freshmen made their collegiate 8K debuts as St. Scholastica finished fourth with 108 points in its first meet at the distance this season.

Vanderwal positioned himself near the front from the start, leading a chase pack of roughly 15 runners after four leaders separated from the field within the opening half-mile. Following his first summer dedicated to running, he moved from 11th at the halfway mark to sixth at the finish.

Cole Stencel of host Saint John's won the individual title in 25:35.9. Bethel's Hootie Hage finished second in 25:53.6, followed by Macalester's John Ihrke in 25:54.8.

Sophomore Connor Feldt (Aurora, MN/Mesabi East HS) was the Saints' second finisher, placing 25th with a 27-second personal best of 27:07.2. Freshman Austin Matrious (Blaine, MN/Blaine High School) followed in 27th at 27:15.3, while fellow freshman Adrian Rausch finished 29th in 27:31.5. Sophomore Evan Bumgardner (Luverne, MN/Murray County Central HS) rounded out St. Scholastica's scoring five, placing 34th with a 17-second personal best of 27:35.7.

Macalester placed all five scorers in the top 11 to capture the team title with 38 points. Bethel finished second with 59 points, while Saint John's took third with 62.

The Saints have next weekend off before returning to competition Oct. 3 at Carleton College for the Running of the Cows and Pre-Nationals meet.