On September 20, St. Paul's School sent a contingent of runners to compete in the Manchester Invitational at Derryfield Park. In the small school (fewer than 1,010 students) varsity race featuring 42 teams, St. Paul's packed up in the first mile and navigated the dust and crowded field well. Just missing the podium in 4th, the team showed early-season speed and grit. Owen Gorenc '27 finished 9th overall of more than 300 competitors in the event. In the junior varsity 5K, runners similarly gained big-race experience and executed their races well, with all five scoring runners improving their placements moving through the 500m, mile, two-mile, and finish-line checkpoints. Kyle Gump '26 passed 83 competitors from the 500m through the finish. The St. Paul's Schools runners next compete at the Northfield Mount Hermon Invitational, on September 27.