NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus College men’s cross country team turned in a sixth place finish of 30 teams for the second season in a row at the NCAA Central Region Meet Saturday afternoon on the campus of Carleton College.
Gustavus tallied 191 points and were second among Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference competitors. Loras College took home the title with a score of 101, while league rival St. Olaf College place third with 128 points.
“We wanted our team score closer to 100, but it is what it is and it was a good field today for sure,” said Head Coach Dale Bahr.
Co-captain Evan Jones (Sr., Pella, Iowa) posted the top time for the Gusties as he ran into a 12th place finish out of 207 participants with a time of 25:48.1.
Thomas Knobbe (Sr., Decorah, Iowa) finished right behind Jones with a time of 25:50.3 to earn a 13th place finish.
For their perforances, Jones and Knobbe earned All-Region honors.
“Anytime we can put somebody up on the podium that’s a good thing,” Bahr commented. “Obviously were are looking for a few more, but it just wasn’t in the cards today.”
As a team the Gusties registered an average 8k time of 26:18 and had a total time of 2:11.30.
Gustavus will find out tomorrow if Jones or Knobbe qualify for the NCAA national meet.
“Right now Evan is the first guy out, but if Nebraska Wesleyan makes the national field, which there is a high likelihood that they will, then Evan is the first guy in,” Bahr said. “If our region somehow gets five teams in that national meet, then Knobbe would go as well.”
Gustavus Top-Seven:
12. Jones (25:48.1)
13. Knobbe (25:50.3)
43. Carston Dammann (26:25.4)
60. Alex Wischnack (26:41.6)
63. Alex Fredrickson (Sr., Victoria, Minn.) (26:44)
74. Ryley Sandberg (Jr., Polk City, Iowa) (26:53.1)
95. Marcus Speca (Sr., Minnetonka, Minn.) (27:14.6)