Bruin Men run to top ten finish at Blazing Tiger
The Bruin men's cross country team continued their record-breaking season at today's Blazing Tiger Invite with a top-ten team finish among 27 full-scoring teams. Doane University and College of St. Mary were the host schools for Saturday's meet at Mahoney State Park, which featured five of the top 15 NAIA-ranked men's squads, along with three others receiving votes in the latest NAIA national ranking. The Bruin men finished eighth behind those five ranked teams and two of the teams who were receiving votes.
ASHLAND, Neb. -- The Bruin men's cross country team continued their record-breaking season at today's Blazing Tiger Invite with a top-ten team finish among 27 full-scoring teams. Doane University and College of St. Mary were the host schools for Saturday's meet at Mahoney State Park, which featured five of the top 15 NAIA-ranked men's squads, along with three others receiving votes in the latest NAIA national ranking. The Bruin men finished eighth behind those five ranked teams and two of the teams who were receiving votes.
The Bruins' total time of 2:09:21 for the five scoring runners eclipsed the school record mark set two weeks ago at Dordt by forty seconds for an average of 25:52 per runner.
In the process, they also maintained their No. 1 ranking among NSAA teams by defeating Dickinson State (17th), Dakota State (20th), and Jamestown (21st). The meet was won by the No. 3 ranked College of Idaho as their men swept the top three podium spots.
The men were led once again by Richard Marcoux, who took the 8K school record under 25 minutes with his 24:58.0 clocking, placing him 14th overall in the field of 339 finishers. Ronald Kipyegon and Xavier Mallow both eclipsed the previous freshman record, with Kipyegon running 25:31.0 for 36th and Mallow finishing in the 44th spot with his 25:41.9. Kipyegon took 45 seconds from his previous best at Dordt two weeks ago. Jose Lara Flores again put a scare into the junior record, just five seconds off in 26:11.5 for 73rd. The final scorer for the Bruins was Collin Kotz, who placed 143rd at 26:59.3.
Five Bruin non-scorers included Luis Casallas Vega, 163rd in 27:13.7, Griffin Kipchumba Kisoryo was 195th in 27:44.5. Jaedon Maxfield, who recorded a season-best 27:56.9 for 214th. Robbie Siford ran 28:28.9 for 240th, and Alejandro Corona Martinez placed 331st in 32:49.3.
Today's meet marked the end of the regular season for the Bruin cross country squad as they now point to the NSAA Championship meet on November 8 in Valley City, N.D., where they have their sights set on qualifying for their first national championship meet.
