The Rhodes College men's cross country team opened the 2026 season with a fifth-place finish at the Franklin Grizzly Invitational on Sept. 5 at Blue River Cross Country Course in Shelbyville, Ind.

Rhodes finished with 158 points in the 5K, recording a team time of 1:23:37.

Diego Donald paced the Lynx with a sixth-place individual finish, completing the course in 16:05.6. Thatcher Groce was next for Rhodes, placing 25th overall in 16:36.1.

Brady Meredith finished 35th in 16:47.5, followed by Wright McManus in 42nd at 16:57.9. Frank Plumley rounded out the Lynx scoring five with a 50th-place finish in 17:10.9.

Rhodes finished fifth among the 12 teams competing at the invitational, giving the Lynx a solid start to the 2026 campaign.

The Lynx return to action at the Rhodes Invitational on September 19.