Thomas Knobbe led the Gusties with a fourth place finish. (photo courtesy of Matt Higgins)
RESULTS | MIAC Championship Page
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s cross country team finished in third place of 11 teams at the 2016 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships Saturday afternoon at Como Golf Course in St. Paul, Minn.
As a team the Black and Gold scored 77 points with a total team time of 2:13:30, good for an average time of 26:42. The third place finish marks the best finish for the Gustie men since the 1992 team also finished in third.
St. Olaf finished in first place to earn their fifth consecutive conference title. Saint John’s came in second place.
“I was pleased with third place because we went out and competed hard,” said Head Coach Dale Bahr. “Obviously we were looking to be top-two, but we don’t have control of what other teams do.”
Thomas Knobbe (Sr., Decorah, Iowa) led the Gusties with an 8k time of 26:16.2, finishing in fourth place out of 208 competitors. Co-captain Evan Jones (Sr., Pella, Iowa) wasn’t far behind Knobbe, running in to a sixth place finish with a time of 26:18.8. Co-captain Carston Dammann (Sr., Lake City, Minn.) was next in line for Gustavus as he sprinted to a 13th place finish with at time of 26:46.6.
For their performances, Knobbe, Jones, and Dammann were named to the MIAC All-Conference Team.
Carston Dammann (Matt Higgins)
Alex Wischnack (So., Norwood Young America, Minn.) finished just over 10 seconds behind Dammann at 26:57.5, good for 22nd place. Wischnack was recognized as an All-Conference Honorable Mention honoree for his performance.
“Anytime you can get three guys to make All-Conference, it’s pretty impressive,” Bahr said. “I have to take my hat off, these guys have worked pretty hard. They’re not done and they have more to prove. We bounced back after not racing well the last two meets and today we raced well.”
Gustavus Top-Seven:
4. Knobbe (26:16.2)
6. Jones (26:18.8)
13. Dammann (26:46.6)
22. Wischnack (26:57.5)
32. Marcus Speca (Sr., Minnetonka, Minn.) (27:11)
37. Alex Fredrickson (Sr., Victoria, Minn.) (27:21.6)
38. Ryley Sandberg (Jr., Polk City, Iowa) (27:22.3)
“I think taking third place today is going to put a little sour taste in our mouth to come back at regions and run even better. I’m excited to see what happens in two weeks,” commented Bahr.
The Gusties next head to the Saint John’s Fall Finale next Friday before preparing for the NCAA Regionals, November 12.