New Paltz, NY —The State University of New York New Paltz men's cross country team announced its incoming class for the 2026-27 season today.

Fall 2026 marks the beginning of a new era for Hawk cross country as New Paltz inaugurates play in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The 2025 Hawks concluded their SUNYAC history
with their best ever showing in both the SUNYAC Championships - thirds of 12 teams - and a 13th of 26 teams finish in the NCAA DIII Mideast Regional.

Read more about each new Hawk below:

Casey Brown '30
Rushville, NY
Marcus Whitman High School

Brown was a two year varsity cross country runner for the Wildcats and also ran winter and spring track.

His best 5,000 meter times include:
18:37.20
18:40.80
19:06.30
19:11.20
20:00.10

Brown scored well for Marcus Whitman in both the 2024 and 2025 Section V, Class D with the 2025 team winning the Wayne/Finger Lakes League title and the Section V, Class D
championship. For both years he qualified and ran in the NYSPHSAA Class D state championship meet.

Beyond cross country, Brown also ran distance in spring track and field. Off the path, he was a High Honor Roll student, a NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete, earned his Eagle Scout pin and received the Donald K. Rhine Scholarship and Sportsmanship Award from Marcus Whitman High School.

Langston Comer '30
South Kortright, NY
South Korthright Central School

Langston Comer ran varsity cross country for three seasons for the combined Delhi/South Kortright high schools team and also competed in winter and spring track.

Comer's top 5,000 meter times include:
17:33.90
17:37.00
18:20.80
18:32.20
19:41.10

In 2025 Comer earned both Mid-State Athletic Conference (MAC) and Section IV First Team honors. He helped lead D/SK to both the MAC and Section IV, Class D titles. He qualified and ran in the NYSPHSAA, Class D state championship, he helped D/SK earn a fourth place finish.

In 2024, he was named Delaware League First Team and MAC Second Team, assisting D/SK to both the MAC title and the Section IV, Class D championship. At the NYSPHSAA Class D state championship, his 19:41.1 helped D/SK to an eighth place finish in NYS Class D.

Comer was recognized as a Delaware League Cross Country Academic All Star in each of his three varsity seasons. He was a High Honor Roll student at South Kortright Central School in each of his four years.

Luca Maneri - Graduate Student
Esopus, NY
Kingston High School
Stony Brook University

Luca Maneri, a three year cross country team member and a four year track participant for the Stony Brook University Seawolves, will complete his running career as a New Paltz Hawk.

His personal best times include:
5,000 Meters: 15:02.36
6,000 Meters: 19:47.80
8,000 Meters: 24:53.40
10,000 Meters: 31:48.80

Maneri had an outstanding high school career, graduating as one of Kingston High School's all time best runners. He earned multiple cross country all star honors, including Daily Freeman All Star, Varsity 845 All Star, OCIAA All Star and Section IX All star. He also qualified for the NYSPHSAA Class A state meet in 2021. Maneri also had an outstanding and award winning track and field career for the Seawolves.

At Stony Brook University, Maneri competed as a member of the Seawolves cross country team for three years, In his senior season at Stony Brook, Maneri earned his first Coastal Athletic Conference (CAA) Runner of the Week honor, placing seventh at the Central Connecticut Mini-Meet with a time of 15:02.36 over 5,000 meters. He was a member of the Seawolves top seven post season lineup, finishing 30th in the CAA championship meet with an 8K time of 24:53.40 helping Stony Brook to a third place finish. At the NCAA DI NE Regional championship, he ran the 10K in 31:48.80 for 152 place and helped the Seawolves to a 15th place finish among 77 teams.

Maneri was a four year CAA Commissioners Academic Honor Roll selection and joined his teammates on the USTFCCCA All Academic Team all four years.

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