GRINNELL – Jaxon Barnes beat 103 competitors Saturday to pace Cornell's men's cross country team at the 63rd Annual Les Duke Invitational Saturday morning at Grinnell Golf Course.
 
In the team's first 8K race of the fall, Barnes covered the layout in 28:35. The junior placed 32nd out of 135 total finishers.  
 
Cornell's next two scores came from freshmen Carson Krogman and Caden Edwards. Krogman took 58th overall in 29:40, while Edwards crossed 65th in 29:55.
 
Sophomore Caleb Long finished 67th (29:58) and Grant Anderson was 76th to round out Cornell's scoring five. Easton Mai (30:45) and Tony Zamudio (30:55) finished 79th and 83rd, respectively.
 
The Rams placed sixth in the team race with 167 points. No. 6 regionally-ranked Central won the meet with 37 points.
 
Simpson's James Johnson was crowned individual champion in 26:10.
 
Coming up – The Rams compete next Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Gil Dodds Invitational in Wheaton, Ill.