NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. -- Four of five BU runners set new personal bests on the day as the Bellevue University men's cross country team placed 10th in a 12-team field at the Briar Cliff Invitational.
Running Conditions:
The running conditions were described as ideal by Bruin coach Craig Christians with temperatures in the low 40's and a fast course which saw nine runners (men's and women's) establish new personal records.
Recap:
Chris Casart and Cole Wagner became the first runners to crack the 28-minute mark. Casart completed the race in 27:09.58 (P.R.) to place 45th overall and 37th among scoring runners. Wagner ran a time of 27:16.65 (P.R.) for a 49th place finish which was good for 39th among scoring runners.
The trio of Jason Landin, Aaron Newton, and Tony Chol all finished within 2.01 seconds of one another in 108th (65th scoring), 110th (67th), and 111th (68th) place, respectively. Landin led the group with a time of 29:36.16 (P.R.) and was followed by Newton in 29:41.18 (P.R.) and Chol 29:43.17. It was the first time this season in which all five BU runners completed a race in less than 30 minutes, one of the team's stated goals.
Dordt took home the team title with 57 points for a comfortable victory over second place Doane (83 points). Northwestern (107), Morningside (124), and Dakota State (130) rounded out the top five.
Bellevue finished with 276 points, 14 ahead of 11th-place Briar Cliff and 37 back of ninth-place Hastings.
Dakota State's Braden Curnow won the individual title in 25:19.45, a 7.07 second margin ahead of unattached second place finished Mark Abrams (25:26.52). The Trojans' Max Cruse (25:33.69) rounded out the podium finishers.
Up Next:
BU is off next weekend before returning to the course on Saturday, Oct. 20 when they compete at the Mount Marty Invitational in Yankton, S.D.
