WILLIAMSTOWN, MA (September 19, 2026) – Tufts University senior
Jonah Reisner was the first collegiate finisher at the Purple Valley Classic hosted by Williams College at Mount Greylock High School on Saturday.
On the eight-kilometer course, Reisner made his season debut with a 24:49.6 time that was 26 seconds faster than Williams College runner-up Malcolm Oakes (25:15.8). Unattached runners Chuckie Namiot (23:56.6) and John Lucey (23:59.3) also competed at the event and were ahead of the collegiate field.
Tufts went head-to-head against Williams for the second straight week. The Jumbos finished with a five-best score of 30 today, close behind the Ephs' winning score of 27. Both teams rested some of their top runners. Molloy University also competed and was third with an 85 score.
Freshman
Jason Minicozzi had another good race for the Jumbos, finishing second for the team in 25:29.9 for fifth overall and third among collegians. In a race with 51 finishers overall, Tufts sophomore
Chris Hovet (25:33.0) and junior
Meba Henok (25:36.6) were both in the top 10 overall at eighth and 10th, respectively.
Another Jumbo freshman was in their scoring five as
Taylor Combs ran 25:49.8 to place 14th among all runners.
Tufts' top seven also included junior
Gabe Grove (26:56.9) for 15th overall, and senior
Sam Kurian in 16th at a 26:00.2 mark.
Jumbos earning top 20 overall times today also included junior
Liam Lucas (26:12.7) and sophomore
William Burch (26:14.3). Rounding out the Jumbo top 10 was junior
Lucas Klein (26:37.1).
Tufts is idle next week before racing on the NCAA Championship course at Carleton College on October 3.
--JUMBOS--
