Nick Lyndaker's course-record run of 24:35.3 at the 2024 Liberty League cross country championship helped the St. Lawrence University men's cross country team to a second-place overall finish in their conference meet on a historic day at the Ronald C. Hoffmann Cross Country Course.

The Canton, N.Y. native ran a crafty race, starting out among a large pack of runners at the front of the field. That large pack thinned out as the race progressed, and Lyndaker stuck at the top until he ultimately pulled away in the race's last lap to seal the individual championship. He had a 4:35.2 mile pace in the final stretch of the race, six seconds better than his next closest competitor.

"It was a spectacular day for racing on the Hoff. The conference championship seems to always bring out the best in the Saints and today was no exception," said Saints head coach John Newman regarding his team's performance. "The team ran an excellent race and fought for second place in the team standings." 

"What can I say about Nick? He's been honing his racing along with his teammates all season and came into this weekend with a lot of confidence. We knew the target was to put himself in a position especially after he came so close last year. To try and win is a big enough challenge but to do it on the day when it matters at a championship can often be a challenge, especially in such a competitive field.  The home crowd and support certainly added to the energy of the day. I couldn't be more excited for the progress the team has made this season."

Lyndaker's record is the lowest since Lee Berube of SUNY Geneseo ran a 24:39.4 in 2011 – as he breaks a 13-year-old record. His individual championship is the first by a St. Lawrence runner since Joseph Smith in 2019. He also set the fastest winning eight-kilometer time in Liberty League history. He shaved 1:44 off his Hoffmann Invitational time from earlier this season.

The victory gives Lyndaker all-Liberty League first-team honors – and he wasn't the only Saint to hit all-League honors as a top-21 finisher in the race.
 
Matthew Taylor received an all-League honorable mention for his 18^th place finish, crossing the line in 25:49.5. Patrick Russell was not far behind him, placing 20^th with a time of 25:53.1 – an improvement on placement from his last conference championship.

St. Lawrence averaged 63 seconds less time for each of the team's top five runners than they did at at the Hoffmann Invitational back in September.

Lyndaker becomes the men's cross country program's 26th conference individual champion in our 53-year conference history. Since the program's third year competing at a conference championship in 1972, St. Lawrence has only finished outside the top three position on one occasion.

The Saints now head to their next meet, the NCAA Mideast Regional, which is set for Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, Conn on Saturday, November 16.

St. Lawrence Top Seven.
1. Nick Lyndaker — 24:35.3 (LL Record, Course Record)
18. Matthew Taylor — 25:49.5
20. Patrick Russell — 25:53.1
25. Matthew Serrano — 26:03.9
30. Griffin Roeder — 26:22.1
33. Owen Patry — 26:26.8
36. Colin Young — 26:32.3