With top runner Michael Aish concluding a stellar career in style, Western State won its third consecutive team title and fourth overall at the Division II Men's Cross Country Championships November 17 at Slippery Rock.

Aish and teammate Joshua Eberly finished first and second, respectively, as Western State posted a team score of 38 points. Abilene Christian was second with 74 points and Adams State was third with 107, as the three institutions ended in the same order and with nearly the same point differential as they did in 2000.

Last year, Western State had a 33-point margin over Abilene Christian, which was 34 points better than Adams State.

Aish earned his second individual title, the first one coming in 1999, joining nine other student-athletes who won twice in the 44-year history of the championships. The Mountaineers' senior, who had a time of 30 minutes, 52.6 seconds at Slippery Rock, also placed third last year and eighth as a freshman.

Eberly dramatically improved his finish from the previous year's championships, in which he was 28th overall and the last of seven Western State competitors to cross the finish line. The junior had a 10,000-meter time of 31 minutes, 34.7 seconds.

Sophomore Chris Siemers also cracked the top 10 for Western State, placing fifth. Rubin McRae was 12th and Scott Nagelkerke 20th for the Mountaineers.

Alfred Rugema, the 2000 individual champion, was Abilene Christian's leader once again. Rugema ended seventh in his first race of the season after suffering a stress fracture in his right leg. The Wildcats' junior also was seventh in the 1999 Division II championships.

Jean-Marie Ndikumana was just behind Rugema in eighth place for Abilene Christian. Enrique Guerrero was ninth and Matthew Levassiur 10th for Adams State.

Joining Aish and Rugema with at least three top-10 finishes was Yi Min Wu of Edinboro. Wu won the 1998 individual title and came in fourth in both 1999 and this year.

Team results

1. Western St., 38; 2. Abilene Christian, 74; 3. Adams St., 107; 4. Truman, 167; 5. Harding, 202; 6. UC Davis, 202; 7. South Dakota St., 214; 8. Edinboro, 266; 9. Cal. St. Chico, 293; 10. Mass.-Lowell, 304; 11. Wayne St. (Mich.), 320; 12. Lewis, 321; 13. Minn. St.-Mankato, 329; 14. Kennesaw St., 372; 15. UC San Diego, 397; 16. Alas. Anchorage, 407; 17. Central Mo. St., 409; 18. Shippensburg, 432; 19. Mo. Southern St., 439; 20. Millersville, 444; 21. Fort Hays St., 460; 22. Bentley, 536; 23. Lees-McRae, 721; 24. Mount Olive, 745.

Individual results

1. Michael Aish, Western St., 30:52.6; 2. Joshua Eberly, Western St., 31:34.7; 3. Martin Rosendahl, Minn. St.-Mankato, 31:56.2; 4. Yi Min Wu, Edinboro, 32:01.6; 5. Chris Siemers, Western St., 32:03.0; 6. Linus Chepkwony, Harding, 32:08.8; 7. Alfred Rugema, Abilene Christian, 32:14.4; 8. Jean-Marie Ndikumana, Abilene Christian, 32:15.1; 9. Enrique Guerrero, Adams St., 32:16.5; 10. Matthew Levassiur, Adams St., 32:17.6.

11. Alan Heincker, Truman, 32:18.6; 12. Rubin McRae, Western St., 32:20.7; 13. Joey Byrne, Southern Ind., 32:21.1; 14. Mark Stallings, Millersville, 32:22.2; 15. Jacob Rotich, Harding, 32:22.6; 16. Aaron Rogers, Grand Valley St., 32:28.6; 17. Bernard Manirakiza, Abilene Christian, 32:32.1; 18. David Braund, Cal St. Chico, 32:34.0; 19. Andy Doering, Truman, 32:35.2; 20. Scott Nagelkerke, Western St., 32:37.3.

21. Nick Allen, Wayne St. (Mich.), 32:37.8; 22. John Kemboi, Abilene Christian, 32:38.0; 23. Gediminus Banevicius, Kennesaw St., 32:39.0; 24. Paul McRae, Western St., 32:44.9; 25. Ryan Miller, UC Davis, 32:45.2; 26. Nick Branen, Abilene Christian, 32:47.4; 27. Petri Kykyri, Mo. Southern St., 32:48.4; 28. Cele Rodriguez, Adams St., 32:55.2; 29. Arturo Cabral, Lewis, 32:57.3; 30. Daniel Nohava, Adams St., 32:59.4.

31. Christian Madsen, Hawaii Pacific, 33:01.1; 32. Ben Rosario, Truman, 33:03.6; 33. Tomasz Baginski, Lewis, 33:09.8; 34. Greg Darbyshire, South Dakota St., 33:12.6; 35. Tobias Schwoerer, Alas. Anchorage, 33:13.1; 36. Gregory Augspurger, UC-Colo. Spgs., 33:13.3; 37. Steve Laurie, UC Davis, 33:13.7; 38. Joshua Merrick, Adams St., 33:20.2; 39. Andrew Blau, South Dakota St., 33:23.4; 40. Japheth Langat, Harding, 33:24.2.

41. Robert Berger, Minn. St.-Mankato, 33:26.4; 42. Carl Mease, Mass.-Lowell, 33:28.3; 43. Nate Bristow, UC Davis, 33:30.7; 44. Jari Venalainen, Kennesaw St., 33:33.0; 45. Brett Carroll, Minn.-Duluth, 33:34.5; 46. Chris Cowan, Lock Haven, 33:34.9; 47. Kevin Doe, South Dakota St., 33:36.6; 48. Daryn Parker, Fort Hays St., 33:38.9; 49. Jeff Wilson, UC Davis, 33:39.5; 50. Kevin Alliette, Mass.-Lowell, 33:39.7.

51. Jarod Wall, Central Mo. St., 33:40.4; 52. Chris Eggers, Cal St. Chico, 33:41.3; 53. George Mollner, South Dakota St., 33:41.8; 54. Theador Gustofson, Minn. St.-Mankato, 33:42.5; 55. Nathanael Wibberley, Edinboro, 33:44.5; 56. Bradley Regan, Adams St., 33:45.6; 57. Dan Yifru, Bentley, 33:47.3; 58. Paul Bennett, Central Mo. St., 33:47.5; 59. Brian McQueary, Truman, 33:48.6; 60. Tim Cron, Edinboro, 33:50.6.

61, Alan Shapiro, UC San Diego, 33:52.1; 62. Tyler Graff, Cal St. Chico, 33:53.4; 63. Pat Boyle, Truman, 33:54.4; 64. Ryan Kelly, Edinboro, 33:55.7; 65. Justin Gindlesperger, Shippensburg, 33:56.5; 66. Brad Lowery, South Dakota St., 33:57.1; 67. Mike Buslepp, Wayne St. (Mich.), 33:57.3; 68. Christophe Irumva, Morehouse, 33:59.3; 69. Arthemon Sindayigaya, Abilene Christian, 34:03.5; 70. Robert Duffy, Mass.-Lowell, 34:04.6.

71. John Kuehn, UC Davis, 34:05.3; 72. Reed Fisher, Harding, 34:05.5; 73. Eric Strabel, Alas. Anchorage, 34:08.9; 74. Greg Mason, Kennesaw St., 34:11.9; 75. Stephen Pizzuli, Millersville, 34:12.5; 76. John Morrison, UC San Diego, 34:13.5; 77. Matthew Pearson, South Dakota St., 34:14.7; 78. Jason Donald, Western St., 34:16.0; 79. Jon Murphy, Mass.-Lowell, 34:16.7; 80. Brian Goodwin, Wayne St. (Mich.), 34:17.0.

81. Eric Demerice, Shippensburg, 34:17.9; 82. Joe Verellen, Wayne St. (Mich.), 34:19.6; 83. Brian Lyons, Mo. Southern St., 34:21.0; 84. Brad Poore, UC Davis, 34:21.3; 85. Paul Koehler, Mo. Southern St., 34:23.9; 86. David Flueckiger, South Dakota St., 34:25.2; 87. Sean Rivers, Alas. Anchorage, 34:26.0; 88. Jared Sims, Pittsburg St., 34:27.0; 89. David Scharff, Harding, 34:27.7; 90. Braulio Benitez, Lewis, 34:27.7.

91. Jim Kastrenos, Bentley, 34:28.5; 92. Todd Woscester, Fort Hays St., 34:32.0; 93. Vernon Ruiz, Cal St. Chico, 34:32.7; 94. David Dunbar, UC San Diego, 34:33.3; 95. Michael Guinn, Alderson-Broaddus, 34:34.4; 96. Eric Sherry, Mass.-Lowell, 34:35.5; 97. Mike Cropper, Lewis, 34:38.2; 98. Alex Daniels, UC Davis, 34:39.3; 99. Isaac Allen, Pittsburg St., 34:40.9; 100. Ryan Wade, Cal St. Chico, 34:41.0.

101. Grant Guenther, UC San Diego, 34:45.1; 102. Charlie Stamboulian, Wayne St. (Mich.), 34:46.4; 103. Adam Moos, Fort Hays St., 34:46.7; 104. Frank Velasquez, Lewis, 34:47.8; 105. Joseph Breisch, Shippensburg, 34:48.6; 106. Neil Kalra, UC San Diego, 34:50.0; 107. Mario Fraioli, Stonehill, 34:53.1; 108. Leif Kennedy, Central Mo. St., 34:57.0; 109. Boris Dinaburg, Shippensburg, 34:57.4; 110. Brett Parker, North Fla., 34:58.0.

111. Ed Garza, Wayne St. (Mich.), 34:58.7; 112. Dan Sawicki, Mass.-Lowell, 35:01.4; 113. Kimmo Lassila, Edinboro, 35:01.4; 114. Nathanael Castle, Seattle Pacific, 35:02.3; 115. Mike Knutson, Central Mo. St., 35:02.9; 116. Eron Tello, Cal St. Chico, 35:03.0; 117. Jose Merino, Adams St., 35:03.5; 118. Jeremy Houseman, Millersville, 35:07.8; 119. Scott Lewandowski, Shippensburg, 35:08.2; 120. Mark DeBold, Truman, 35:08.8.

121. Andy Elvester, Alas. Anchorage, 35:11.1; 122. Joe Reynolds, Edinboro, 35:12.6; 123. Landon Taylor, Kennesaw St., 35:13.2; 124. Scott Wietecha, Harding, 35:16.4; 125. Julian Nahan, UC San Diego, 35:16.8; 126. Jon Dalby, Central Mo. St., 35:20.7; 127. Andrew Swanson, Minn. St.-Mankato, 35:22.3; 128. Dale Elliott, Central Mo. St., 35:25.0; 129. Mike Nelson, Truman, 35:25.3; 130. Brian Knapp, Lees-McRae, 35:27.6.

131. Brian Oney, Fort Hays St., 35:29.5; 132. Larry Boswell, Mo. Southern St., 35:30.1; 133. Chris Burns, Wayne St. (Mich.), 35:30.6; 134. Vernon Campbell, Alas. Anchorage, 35:30.7; 135. Derek Watulak, Bentley, 35:31.0; 136. Anthony Nicholl, Fort Hays St., 35:33.2; 137. Willie Nelson, Lewis, 35:34.1; 138. Jeffrey Rood, Millersville, 35:34.4; 139. Alexander McAbee, New Haven, 35:36.0; 140. Josh Quinn, Mount Olive, 35:37.5.

141. Jason Chaput, Minn. St.-Mankato, 35:38.3; 142. Mark Hryvniak, Edinboro, 35:45.7; 143. Will Hurst, Fort Hays St., 35:46.9; 144. Zachary Tarver, Cal St. Chico, 35:47.6; 145. Tom Hammes, Lewis, 35:48.0; 146. Yonas Seyum, Minn. St.-Mankato, 35:48.9; 147. Jim Benchich, Millersville, 35:49.7, 148. Andy Coker, Kennesaw St., 35:50.2; 149. Alhaji Alhassan, St. Augustine's, 35:50.9; 150. Terrance Lillicrapp, Shippensburg, 35:52.7.

151. Brian Lankiewicz, Mass.-Lowell, 35:55.6; 152. Stephen Martin, UC San Diego, 35:56.6; 153. Craig Eckstein, Barton, 35:59.3; 154. John Brinegar, Bentley, 36:06.5; 155. Mike Nyquist, Lees-McRae, 36:12.6; 156. Scott Fiksdal, Minn. St.-Mankato, 36:13.0; 157. Michael Sutter, Mo. Southern St., 36:14.7; 158. Andy Ellis, Bentley, 36:17.4; 159. Nate Normandin, Alas. Anchorage, 36:21.5; 160. Russell Stellmach, Millersville, 36:22.5.

161. Kenneth DiMarzio, Millersville, 36:25.8; 162. Marc Davis, Shippensburg, 36:27.8; 163. Mike Killam, Bentley, 36:31.8; 164. Erik Uribe, Mount Olive, 36:33.3; 165. Robert Petree, Lees-McRae, 36:35.9; 166. Scott Rood, Alas. Anchorage, 36:38.6; 167. Scott Penick, Harding, 36:43.4; 168. Brad Cole, Fort Hays St., 36:48.9; 169. Joe Medrano, Abilene Christian, 36:49.3; 170. Phillip Flamion, Mount Olive, 36:51.5.

171. Shane Land, Central Mo. St., 37:00.7; 172. Brett Collins, Lees-McRae, 37:27.4; 173. Mehrdad Amini, Kennesaw St., 39:00.3; 174. Robert Richardson III, Mount Olive, 39:53.5; 175. Pete Provot, Mount Olive, 39:58.6; 176. Jimmy Keith, Lees-McRae, 40:38.0; 177. Gary Webb, Mount Olive, 40:58.8; 178. Adam Dewitt, Lees-McRae, 41:29.5; 179. Christopher Ribbeck, Mount Olive, 41:48.0.