Bronx, N.Y.— In its final tune up at Van Cortlandt Park this season before the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) championship meet in two weeks, the John Jay men's cross country made a statement as the Bloodhounds finished second overall of 10 teams and first amongst CUNYAC teams at the Brooklyn College Invitational on Sunday morning. John Jay recorded 66 points, while Drew University won the invitational with 41 points.

Running without one of their top runners, Jessie Contrera (New York, NY, Newark Tech), who has been their best finisher in three races this season, John Jay got strong performances from Jemal Ninua (Republic of Georgia, James Madison), Mikey Babayev (Moscow, Russia, Forest Hills) and Antonio Aguilar (Bronx, NY, Teaching and the Professions). They all finished in the top 10 and finished seventh, eighth and ninth respectively and finished within four seconds of each other.

Ninua, the three time conference Rookie of the Week, finished seventh of 77 runners and was John Jay's top finisher (31:45), while Babayev was right behind him (31:48). Aguilar completed the John Jay trifecta (31:49).

Jaime Valentin (Bronx, NY, Freedom) was John Jay's fourth finisher and was 17th overall (33:35), while Mark Benjamin (Syracuse, NY, Corcoran) rounded out the top five. He was 30th overall (35:11).

Gabriel Rodriguez (Brooklyn, NY, Fort Hamilton) was John Jay's sixth runner and was 33rd overall (35:11). Robbie Ferro in his return was 71st overall (43:16).

Other CUNYAC teams at the invitational were York College (3rd), Brooklyn College (4th), New York City Tech (8th), College of Staten Island (9th) and the City College of New York (10th).