BOSTON, Mass. – For the fifth time this season freshman Ryan Ballard (Norwalk, Conn.) led the way for the Wentworth Institute of Technology cross country team as the rookie finished in 26th place at the James Earley Invitational.

The "White" race event – which was comprised of 24 teams (181 student-athletes) – was run as an 8K race at Stanley Park. As a team Wentworth amassed 371 points to finish 13th, their best showing this season as all five scoring runners broke the 30-minute mark.

Ballard clocked a time of 26:52.27, which was 14 seconds outside of a top 20 finish and scored 24 points for the Black & Gold. Junior Jack Chausse (Newport, R.I.) was 52nd (49 points, with a time of 27:40.72. Junior William Carpenter (Salisbury, Vt.) finished 99th (93 points), crossing the line with a time of 28:56.92. Sophomore Christian Vallerand (Woburn, Mass.) was 106th (98 points) after finishing with a time of 29:14.48. Freshman Evan McIntire (Mansfield, Mass.) rounded out Wentworth's scoring runners, amassing 107 points after a time of 29:36.38 (117th place).

Sophomore Donovan DiMaria (Dover, N.H.) finished 128th (29:57.30) and freshman Jacob Thomas (Kingston, N.H.) was 141st (30:36.7).

In the "Blue" race, Wentworth had three student-athletes compete. Senior Brendan Jeanjaquet (North Weymouth, Mass.) was 86th (34:03.51), sophomore Nick Whitcomb (Plymouth, Mass.) was 91st (34:34.09), and sophomore Robbie McCue (Weymouth, Mass.) finished 94th (34:40.91).

Wentworth is at the Suffolk Invitational next Saturday in its final tune up before the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship.

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