(Grand Rapids, MI) - The Men's Cross Country team traveled to Riverside Park in Grand Rapids on Saturday, October 22 for the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge. The event featured over 50 teams from across the country and some of the best talent in the country as well. The Cardinals competed in the white division race, which paired them up with familiar conference schools in the second group of races on the day. The course was in great shape and times were all over the board with the unseasonably warm 70 degree day.
Theodore Eising had a strong race and beat his personal record for an 8k by 8 seconds with a finishing time of 29:49. Eising also lead the team, as he was the first Cardinal to cross the line. Avery Sanchez capitalized on the race conditions and ran his personal record time of 30:07, which is 13 seconds better than his previous best. Sanchez was the second Cardinal to cross the line. Luke Bentz crossed the line third for the Cardinals in 30:36. Justin Shumpert, running in just his second race finished fourth on the team with a time of 31:18. Adam Fisch finalized the team score by finishing fifth on the team with a time of 31:51. Jared Stiver wrapped up the day for the Cardinals as our sixth finisher in 38:34.
The team earned 28th place in their race with 826 points. The team will get some good recovery time in before competing at the WHAC Championships in Toledo, OH on Friday, November 4.