VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Richard Marcoux capped an outstanding 2023 cross country season with the top finish in Bruin men's history at today's NAIA National Championship. The championship meet was held under sunny skies and mild temperatures at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in Vancouver, Wash.
Marcoux was just the third Bruin to advance to the national championship in the six-year history of the program. His finish today in 100th place of 328 finishers was over 100 places better than the previous best. He also established history two weeks earlier as the first Bruin to win the North Star Athletic Association men's individual title.
Following Madison Nelson's lead in the women's race, Marcoux worked himself into position slowly by crossing the one-kilometer mark in 125th place. He would gradually work his way to the top 100 by halfway and then passed two runners in the last kilometer to secure the 100th position. His finishing time was 26:16.1 for the four-loop, eight-kilometer course.
Rocky Mountain's Jackson Wilson was the men's individual champion, running 24:31.8 while second-ranked Milligan repeated their 2021 team victory in Vancouver with a narrow five-point win over St. Mary of Kansas.
Head Coach Craig Christians: "Richard had a phenomenal season, and I was so happy to see him cap it off with a great showing today. He is extremely hard-working, and I was very proud of the way he ran today. He doesn't say a lot but gets the job done. He is clearly the best male runner that has come through our program."
With the cross country season concluded, the Bruins will shift their focus to the indoor track season in January. Last year, Marcoux was a national championship individual qualifier in the mile run.
