HASTINGS, Neb. -- Paced by Chris Casart, the Bellevue University men's cross country team battled to a seventh-place showing in the 10-team Bronco Stampede hosted by Hastings College. The course was set up as an 8K race today.
Fort Hays State ran away with the meet title, finishing with 15 team points. The Bruins were seventh, just a point behind Dodge City CC and only 15 points out of fourth place, all without BU's third-seeded runner Gerardo Najera.
Casart led the Bruins with his 14th place finish today in 27:44.95 (28:19 a year ago). It should be noted that Casart was the fourth finisher not wearing a Fort Hays State uniform, an NCAA Division II squad. Cole Wagner showed that he is off to a much better start this season, too, finishing in 28:41 today after running 29:56 last year.
"Our teams finished in last place a year ago so I feel like we are getting better," said head coach Craig Christians. This was not our best race today but we don't want our best race coming in September, we want that in November. We are working very hard right now so we are all running a bit fatigued and dealing with some minor injuries so I was pleased with the overall group effort today. If we are racing hard and giving it a maximum effort, that's all I can ask for."
The Bruins will compete in the Graceland Yellow Jacket Invitational next Saturday, Sept. 21 at 10:30 a.m.
