WARRENVILLE, Ill. – Senior Jake Bach made a triumphant return to Cornell's lineup Friday night, claiming the individual men's title at the Gil Dodds Cross Country Invitational at St. James Farm Forest Preserve.
 
In his first competition of the season, Bach came from behind late to nip Chicago's Evan Parker at the finish line for the victory. Bach covered the 8K course in 24:42.6, while Parker crossed a few strides behind in 24:43.6.
 
Bach, a 2025 NCAA qualifier, beat 247 runners in the large 19-team meet, which included a pair of nationally-ranked squads in No. 6 Chicago and No. 15 North Central.
 
The Rams took fifth in the team race with 179 points, 33 ahead of sixth-place and host Wheaton.
 
Junior Isaac Morris brought in Cornell's second score, placing 45th in 27:09. The Rams had five more individuals crack the Top 100 in Tony Zamudio (72nd, 27:44), Jamie Briggs (75th, 27:49), Caden Edwards (82nd, 27:55), Caleb Long (87th, 28:01) and freshman Brady Leininger (96th, 28:18).
 
Chicago captured the team title with 22 points, followed by North Central (86), Millikin (117) and UW-Parkside (118).
 
Coming up – The Rams compete at Carleton's Running of the Cows Oct. 3 in Northfield, Minn.