NORTHFIELD, Minn. — The Macalester College men's cross country team opened their 2025 campaign today with a definitive win at the Ole Opener. Mac scored 25 points, ahead of St. Olaf (36), Bethel (93), Luther (100), St. Scholastica (128) and Bethany Lutheran (no score). This first-place finish marks the third victory in three seasons for the Scots at the Ole Opener.

At the front of the Scots pack was sophomore John Ihrke (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North), who won the 5-kilometer race in 15:59.4. The win marks the first of Ihrke's collegiate cross country career and a more than 20-second improvement over his finish at last year's Ole Opener. Junior Daniel Wiltse (Missoula, Mont./Hellgate) made it two Scots in the top three with a third-place finish in 16:01.4.

Not far behind Ihrke and Wiltse, a gaggle of Scots placed for Mac. First year Chase Fitterer (Spokane, Wash./International School of Brussels), senior Jordan Galloway (Portland, Ore./Grant) and first year Donovan Connole (West Hartford, Conn./William H. Hall) placed sixth (16:09.7), seventh (16:12.9) and eighth (16:13.2), respectively.

Sophomore Sam Parsons (Eugene, Ore./South Eugene) placed 19th in 16:36.5 to round out Mac's top five performers.

Macalester continues its season at the Hamline University Invitational on Sept. 12 at the Highland National Golf Course.

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