LOGAN TOWNSHIP, N.J. – Allegheny senior Matt Svetz placed ninth in a field of 400 runners to lead the Gators at the Inter-Regional Border Battle, hosted by Rowan University.

Each of the Gators' five scoring runners placed in the top-half of the large field, while Allegheny finished 21st overall among 42 teams, seven of which were ranked in the top-35 of the most recent United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association national poll.

Svetz turned in his third top-10 finish in four events this season, turning in a time of 25 minutes, 17 seconds in the 8-kilometer race. It marked a new season-best time for the Gator standout, and his second impressive performance at the New Jersey event in as many seasons, after placing first at the 2017 Rowan event.

Freshman Tim Weighart was Allegheny's second finisher, posting a time of 26 minutes, 50 seconds to place 123rd. It marked a new season-best time at the 8-kilometer distance for the Gator rookie, 24 seconds ahead off his performance at the Paul Short Run two weeks earlier.

Sophomore Jared Szklenski covered the course in 27 minutes, four seconds, the second-best performance of his career, to place 173rd, just ahead of junior teammate Benjamin Slack-Foust, who turned In a time of 27 minutes, 12 seconds. 

Senior Louis McUmber closed out the Gators' scoring five with a time of 27 minutes, 25 seconds to finish 203rd.

Allegheny's top-seven also included junior Alex Spiro, who turned in a time of 27 minutes, 50 seconds, and freshman Kevin Long, who finished in 27 minutes, 57 seconds.

Johns Hopkins, ranked 10th by the USTFCCCA, totaled 80 points to win the team championship, just ahead of 13th-ranked SUNY-Geneseo, which totaled 86.  Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Sean O'Connor placed first individually with a time of 25 minutes even.

The Gators will not turn their focus to the championship season, which begins on Oct. 27 at the North Coast Athletic Conference Championship, hosted by Ohio Wesleyan.