University of New Hampshire Athletics
Saturday, September 5
Attleboro, Mass.
11:30 AM
University of New Hampshire
at
Suffolk Short Course Classic
Gavin Malark headlined UNH's victory with a runner-up finish
Photo by: Danika Korpacz for Foley Photogr
Malark Leads MXC 'Cats to Season-Opening Win at Suffolk Short Course Classic
9/5/2026 6:35:00 PM | Men's Cross Country
Wildcats post four of top five scores and six of top eight placements
ATTLEBORO, Mass. – The UNH men's cross country team opened the 2026 season in dominant fashion Saturday at the Mark Coogan Championship Course at Highland Park, placing five runners among the top seven finishers and seven among the top 12 to capture the team title at the Suffolk Short Course Classic.
The Wildcats scored 21 points to easily outdistance runner-up Babson (85). Wentworth finished third with 110 points, UMass Dartmouth was fourth with 112 and Franklin Pierce placed fifth with 140. UNH recorded a team time of 1:20:04 and a 16:01 average on the 5-kilometer course.
After Babson junior Nick Yacoub won the individual title in 15 minutes, 30.4 seconds, the Wildcats controlled the front of the race. Junior Gavin Malark (Stratham, N.H.) led UNH with a second-place finish in 15:50.5, followed by senior Matthew Allen (East Kingston, N.H.) in third (15:58.1), freshman Joshua Twomey (Londonderry, N.H.) in fourth (16:02.2), freshman Carson Fitzgerald (Londonderry, N.H.) in fifth (16:04.1) and junior Xavier Lemieux (Buxton, Maine) in seventh (16:08.6). Those five runners accounted for UNH's scoring total of 21 points.
Senior Julian Rime (New City, N.Y.) added an eighth-place finish in 16:09.6, while junior Carson Eames (Littleton, N.H.) placed 12th in 16:14.7 as the Wildcats continued to pack the front of the field.
The Wildcats' top five scorers were separated by only 18.1 seconds, helping produce a 64-point margin of victory over second-place Babson. UNH's scoring runners finished second, third, fourth, fifth and seventh overall in a commanding season-opening performance.
Team Results (Top 5)
UNH – 21
Babson – 85
Wentworth – 110
UMass Dartmouth – 112
Franklin Pierce – 140
UNH Men's Top Finishers
The Wildcats scored 21 points to easily outdistance runner-up Babson (85). Wentworth finished third with 110 points, UMass Dartmouth was fourth with 112 and Franklin Pierce placed fifth with 140. UNH recorded a team time of 1:20:04 and a 16:01 average on the 5-kilometer course.
After Babson junior Nick Yacoub won the individual title in 15 minutes, 30.4 seconds, the Wildcats controlled the front of the race. Junior Gavin Malark (Stratham, N.H.) led UNH with a second-place finish in 15:50.5, followed by senior Matthew Allen (East Kingston, N.H.) in third (15:58.1), freshman Joshua Twomey (Londonderry, N.H.) in fourth (16:02.2), freshman Carson Fitzgerald (Londonderry, N.H.) in fifth (16:04.1) and junior Xavier Lemieux (Buxton, Maine) in seventh (16:08.6). Those five runners accounted for UNH's scoring total of 21 points.
Senior Julian Rime (New City, N.Y.) added an eighth-place finish in 16:09.6, while junior Carson Eames (Littleton, N.H.) placed 12th in 16:14.7 as the Wildcats continued to pack the front of the field.
The Wildcats' top five scorers were separated by only 18.1 seconds, helping produce a 64-point margin of victory over second-place Babson. UNH's scoring runners finished second, third, fourth, fifth and seventh overall in a commanding season-opening performance.
Team Results (Top 5)
UNH – 21
Babson – 85
Wentworth – 110
UMass Dartmouth – 112
Franklin Pierce – 140
UNH Men's Top Finishers
- 2nd – Gavin Malark, 15:50.5
- 3rd – Matthew Allen, 15:58.1
- 4th – Joshua Twomey, 16:02.2
- 5th – Carson Fitzgerald, 16:04.1
- 7th – Xavier Lemieux, 16:08.6
- 8th – Julian Rime, 16:09.6
- 12th – Carson Eames, 16:14.7
NEXT UP
•The UNH men's cross country returns to action at the UMass Dartmouth XC Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 19 (11:20am) at the Robert Dowd Cross Country Course.
GoCatsTravel.com
Wherever the Wildcats take you, book your hotel through GoCatsTravel.com. Fans receive rates comparable to those offered by other booking platforms, while 50% of proceeds support UNH Athletics. Select your team, book your stay and support the Wildcats.
Follow the UNH XC and Track & Field Programs
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unhxctf
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/UNHTrackandField
X - https://x.com/unhtrackfield
•The UNH men's cross country returns to action at the UMass Dartmouth XC Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 19 (11:20am) at the Robert Dowd Cross Country Course.
GoCatsTravel.com
Wherever the Wildcats take you, book your hotel through GoCatsTravel.com. Fans receive rates comparable to those offered by other booking platforms, while 50% of proceeds support UNH Athletics. Select your team, book your stay and support the Wildcats.
Follow the UNH XC and Track & Field Programs
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unhxctf
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/UNHTrackandField
X - https://x.com/unhtrackfield
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Men's Cross Country
Distance
/ Men's Cross Country
Distance
/ Men's Cross Country
Distance
/ Men's Cross Country
Distance
/ Men's Cross Country
Distance
/ Men's Cross CountryDistance
/ Men's Cross CountryFriday, October 08
Thursday, October 07
Thursday, October 07
Thursday, September 23