Abilene Christian posted three top-10 finishers en route to the program’s first national cross country title at the Division II Men’s Cross Country Championships Saturday at the Escambia County Equestrian Center.
The Wildcats took home more hardware when junior Nicodemus Naimadu won his third individual national title in three tries. He is the first runner in Division II history to claim three cross country crowns.
"All the credit goes to the runners," Abilene Christian head coach Derek Hood said of his team’s winning performance. "These guys earned it with all the miles they put in. They’ve done everything the coaches have asked them to do, and we’re proud of them."
Abilene Christian adds its first men’s cross country title to the school’s 28 indoor and outdoor track and field national championships.
Twenty-one of the 24 teams competing were nationally ranked in the top 25. Second-ranked Abilene Christian finished with a combined time of 149:04.3 for 65 points in the 10K race, edging No. 1 Adams State, which recorded a time of 149:43.6 and 82 points. Fifth-ranked Western State’s 151:12.2 for 141 points was good enough for third, while No. 3 Cal State Chico posted a time of 151:43.0 for 171 points. Fourth-ranked Grand Valley State rounded out the top five with a time of 153:24.7 for 217 points.
Harding, Colorado Mines, Wayne State (Michigan), Minnesota State Mankato and Stonehill completed the rest of the top 10..
Naimadu won his third title with an impressive time of 29:17.5.
"We expect to win all of our events," said Naimadu. "This is what we’ve been preparing for. I feel good about what I’ve accomplished, but I still have more. My goal is to win every race from my freshman to my senior year."
Naimadu was pressed by Julius Kosgei of Harding, who finished second with a time of 29:19.9. Cal State Chico’s Scott Bauhs was third at 29:24.5, followed closely by Ryan Blood of Lock Haven at 29:27.0. The rest of the top 10 were Kim Hogarth of Western State, Charlie Serrano of Cal State Chico, Michel Yorek of Adams State, Julius Nyango and Serge Gasore of Abilene Christian, and Adams State’s Aucencio Martinez.
The top 30 overall finishers were named NCAA Division II All-Americans. The top 30 American runners were named all-Americans as well.
To be eligible to participate in the championships, teams and individuals had to qualify in their respective NCAA regional competitions. All regions automatically qualified two teams of seven student-athletes each. Additional berths were awarded to the regions with the first eight team finishers at the 2005 NCAA Division II Men’s Cross Country Championships.
All regions also automatically qualify the top two individuals from non-qualifying teams. In addition, all individual competitors who finish in the top five overall places in their respective regional meet and are not a member of a qualifying team automatically advance to the championships.
Team results
1. Abilene Christian, 57; 2. Adams St., 70; 3. Western St., 113; 4. Cal St. Chico, 137; 5. Grand Valley St., 168; 6. Harding, 192; 7. Colorado Mines, 207; 8. Wayne St. (Mich.), 249; 9. Minn. St. Mankato, 294; 10. Stonehill, 316; 11. Lock Haven, 333; 12. Saginaw Valley, 351; 13. Southern Ind., 390; 14. Central Mo. St., 390; 15. Alas. Anchorage, 402; 16. Mass.-Lowell, 410; 17. Cal Poly Pomona, 421; 18. Mo. Southern St., 434; 19. Edinboro, 437; 20. Fla. Southern, 470; 21. Augustana (S.D.), 474; 22. Northern Ky., 513; 23. St. Andrews, 586; 24. Mars Hill, 695.
Individual results
1. Nicodemus Naimadu, Abilene Christian, 29:17.5; 2. Julius Kosgei, Harding, 29:19.9; 3. Scott Bauhs, Cal St. Chico, 29:24.5; 4. Ryan Blood, Lock Haven, 29:27.0; 5. Kim Hogarth, Western St., 29:32.2; 6. Charlie Serrano, Cal St. Chico, 29:34.9; 7. Michael Yorek, Adams St., 29:37.5; 8. Julius Nyango, Abilene Christian, 29:42.3; 9. Serge Gasore, Abilene Christian, 29:42.6; 10. Aucencio Martinez, Adams St., 29:45.3.
11. Artek Kern, Harding, 29:46.6; 12. Greg Reindl, Colorado Mines, 29:47.3; 13. Aaron Clark, Western St., 29:50.5; 14. Koby Styles, East Central, 29:52.2; 15. Jeff Weiss, Slippery Rock, 29:52.8; 16. Nate Peck, Grand Valley St., 29:56.5; 17. Andy Tremble, Lewis, 29:59.3; 18. Laurent Ngirakamaro, Abilene Christian, 30:00.5; 19. Todd Iacovelli, Hawaii Pacific, 30:01.3; 20. Jacob Raines, Adams St., 30:04.8.
21. Joel Hamilton, Colorado Mines, 30:05.2; 22. Brian Medigovich, Adams St., 30:07.5; 23. Aaron Braun, Adams St., 30:08.6; 24. Paul Jellema, Southern Ind., 30:09.5; 25. Cole Murch, Western St., 30:13.1; 26. Ryan Holm, Grand Valley St., 30:17.4; 27. Paul Jozwiak, Saginaw Valley, 30:18.7; 28. Michael Padilla, West Fla., 30:19.8; 29. Philip Birgen, Abilene Christian, 30:21.5; 30. Antonio Miramontes, Cal St. Chico, 30:22.4.
31. John Riak, St. Martin's, 30:25.8; 32. Clifton Oertli, Colorado Mines, 30:26.1; 33. Tyler Wetering, South Dakota, 30:26.2; 34. Justin Shepherd, Bloomsburg, 30:26.4; 35. Keith Gill, Stonehill, 30:26.6; 36. Chris Mehay, Wayne St. (Mich.), 30:27.2; 37. Christopher Croff, Southern Conn. St., 30:28.1; 38. Scott Dahlberg, Western St., 30:31.2; 39. Dave Niemira, Edinboro, 30:32.8; 40. Jesus Solis, Adams St., 30:35.7.
41. David Kiplagat, Alas. Anchorage, 30:36.4; 42. David Chirchir, Cameron, 30:37.3; 43. Stephen Hill, Christian Bros., 30:38.7; 44. Ruben Sanca, Mass.-Lowell, 30:41.5; 45. Lance Jones, Wayne St. (Mich.), 30:41.8; 46. Adam Akers, Central Mo. St., 30:42.6; 47. Joe Parks, C.W. Post, 30:43.6; 48. Eric Atkinson, Minn. Duluth, 30:44.2; 49. Jorge Medina, Indiana (Pa.), 30:44.9; 50. James Cheruiyot, Harding, 30:45.6.
51. Abdullah Saleh, Wayne St. (Mich.), 30:48.8; 52. James Krajsa, Minn. St. Mankato, 30:51.0; 53. Dustin Dixon, Mo. Southern St., 30:53.4; 54. Chris Hammer, Grand Valley St., 30:57.6; 55. Eric Walker, Fla. Southern, 30:58.1; 56. Laurence McDaris, Colorado Mines, 30:59.2; 57. Chris Pabst, Grand Valley St., 31:01.3; 58. Kyle Ivie, Cal St. Chico, 31:02.1; 59. Jon Hodge, Northwood, 31:04.1; 60. Jason Graham, Western St., 31:05.3.
61. Chad Backsen, Augustana (S.D.), 31:08.7; 62. Gerardo Rabelo, Cal Poly Pomona, 31:09.5; 63. Jason Rengo, Minn. St. Mankato, 31:10.7; 64. James Gale, Grand Valley St., 31:12.0; 65. Brandon Johnson, Saginaw Valley, 31:12.0; 66. Nic Gatlin, Grand Valley St., 31:15.2; 67. Aaron Benson, Lock Haven, 31:15.6; 68. Nick Lara, Adams St., 31:17.6; 69. Brett Musser, Mo. Southern St., 31:18.0; 70. Joe Ryan, Stonehill, 31:18.3.
71. Robbie Young, Grand Valley St., 31:18.5; 72. Zach Koehler, Northern Ky., 31:18.8; 73. David Metzger, Stonehill, 31:18.8; 74. Tim Tollefson, Cal St. Chico, 31:19.2; 75. David Green, Coker, 31:21.5; 76. Tim Sirbek, Southern Ind., 31:24.0; 77. Dan Ristau, Minn. St. Mankato, 31:27.0; 78. Josh Arthur, Edinboro, 31:29.1; 79. Jessi Merkel, Minn. St. Mankato, 31:29.4; 80. Rex Radloff, Mass.-Lowell, 31:30.5.
81. Kevin Christensen, Wayne St. (Mich.), 31:30.8; 82. Matthew Shoulta, Northern Ky., 31:33.1; 83. Zach Cordel, Western St., 31:33.2; 84. Andrew Hoffman, Western St., 31:34.6; 85. Brent Knight, Alas. Anchorage, 31:35.7;
86. Wilfred Chemallan, Dist. Columbia, 31:36.1; 87. Przemek Bobrowski, Harding, 31:36.9; 88. Isrrael Jaimes, St. Augustine’s, 31:37.0; 89. Mitch Cooper, St. Andrews, 31:37.2; 90. Tim Cattoggio, Stonehill, 31:39.2.
91. Matt Cregger, Harding, 31:39.8; 92. Aaron Dickson, Alas. Anchorage, 31:40.6; 93. David Fuchs, Central Mo. St., 31:42.8; 94. Joe Mundt, Central Mo. St., 31:43.8; 95. Ryan Arthur, Mo. Southern St., 31:45.1; 96. Samuel Gebreselassie, Southern Ind., 31:46.0; 97. Nick Krus, Saginaw Valley, 31:46.3; 98. Jon Stoehr, Mars Hill, 31:48.0; 99. Bart Johnson, Augustana (S.D.), 31:48.5; 100. Dennis Hill, Central Mo. St., 31:49.2.
101. Jayce Watson, Wingate, 31:50.6; 102. Chris Clark, Clarion, 31:51.9; 103. Steve Plouffe, Mass.-Lowell, 31:52.8; 104. Jeff Stuckenbroker, Minn. St. Mankato, 31:56.4; 105. Dave Lucas, Wayne St. (Mich.), 31:57.9; 106. Miguel Cabanas, Cal Poly Pomona, 31:58.0; 107. Greg Schmit, Saginaw Valley, 31:58.0; 108. Rory Kuykendall, Cal St. Chico, 31:59.0; 109. Cory Spidell, Lock Haven, 31:59.5; 110. Chris Robson, Lock Haven, 31:59.6.
111. Kendall Lopez, Cal Poly Pomona, 32:01.3; 112. Kevin Urak, Cal Poly Pomona, 32:01.7; 113. Jeffrey McCabe, Edinboro, 32:02.0; 114. Lief Thomason, Fla. Southern, 32:02.6; 115. Beau Bettinger, Cal St. Chico, 32:02.8; 116. Austin Vande Berg, Augustana (S.D.), 32:05.4; 117. Dan Kapadia, Wayne St. (Mich.), 32:05.6; 118. Brandon Pomerantz, Lock Haven, 32:06.6; 119. Keith Knapp, Northern Ky., 32:07.5; 120. Drew Dickson, Alas. Anchorage, 32:08.0.
121. Dustin Fier, Minn. St. Mankato, 32:08.0; 122. Scott Mackley, Fla. Southern, 32:09.0; 123. Joe Rayman, Southern Ind., 32:16.1; 124. Josh Andrews, Stonehill, 32:17.1; 125. Isaac Perez, Cal Poly Pomona, 32:17.2; 126. Pedro Tapia, St. Andrews, 32:18.0; 127. Mark Garcia, Mass.-Lowell, 32:19.3; 128. Matt Meagher, Stonehill, 32:19.8; 129. Khalid Abdi, Stonehill, 32:23.2; 130. Sean Cusick, Colorado Mines, 32:24.2.
131. Ryan Janes, St. Andrews, 32:25.0; 132. Cortland Seaver, Saginaw Valley, 32:30.2; 133. Jonathan Stoltman, Minn. St. Mankato, 32:32.5; 134. Shawn Moore, Lock Haven, 32:33.9; 135. Jed Yeatts, Lock Haven, 32:34.4; 136. Jimmy Murphy, Fla. Southern, 32:35.1; 137. Evander Jones, Fla. Southern, 32:36.0; 138. David Blend, Edinboro, 32:37.2; 139. Eddie Venegas, Cal Poly Pomona, 32:38.8; 140. Eric LaCross, Saginaw Valley, 32:39.4.
141. Michael Rooney, Colorado Mines, 32:40.5; 142. Chris Colesworthy, Central Mo. St., 32:41.8; 143. Jason DeDonato, Mass.-Lowell, 32:42.3; 144. Kyle Davis, Mo. Southern St., 32:45.6; 145. Amil Anderson, Augustana (S.D.), 32:47.7; 146. Rob Ihry, Augustana (S.D.), 32:48.5; 147. Mick Boyle, Alas. Anchorage, 32:50.0; 148. Derek DeSantiago, Cal Poly Pomona, 32:50.5; 149. Matt Zielske, Southern Ind., 32:51.5; 150. Ryan Miles, Colorado Mines, 32:52.4.
151. Joey DeWitt, Mass.-Lowell, 32:54.0; 152. Justin Thomas, Southern Ind., 32:55.5; 153. Auston Ellis, Alas. Anchorage, 32:57.1; 154. Andrew Thoman, Edinboro, 32:57.5; 155. Timothy Davidson, Harding, 32:58.7; 156. Steve Mance, Wayne St. (Mich.), 32:59.0; 157. Nathaniel Petrich, Augustana (S.D.), 33:00.4; 158. Tim Bourke, St. Andrews, 33:02.9; 159. Jonathan Alter, Fla. Southern, 33:03.9; 160. Brennon Benkert, Mo. Southern St., 33:07.4.
161. Eric Brenner, Edinboro, 33:09.0; 162. Brad Bullock, Northern Ky., 33:17.3; 163. Eric Brown Jr., Abilene Christian, 33:18.0; 164. Peter Oien, Augustana (S.D.), 33:22.2; 165. Tristan Mannix, Southern Ind., 33:22.8; 166. Joe Nagel, Central Mo. St., 33:23.4; 167. Trevor Step, Fla. Southern, 33:28.3; 168. David Jaeger, Mars Hill, 33:29.8; 169. Breylen Derrick, Northern Ky., 33:33.9; 170. Anthony Schulz, Central Mo. St., 33:35.6.
171. Len Weddel, Saginaw Valley, 33:37.4; 172. Allen Pettigrew, Northern Ky., 33:38.9; 173. Andy Liebner, Alas. Anchorage, 33:42.9; 174. Tyler Wilkinson, Mars Hill, 33:50.8; 175. William Mikolacjzak, Mars Hill, 34:04.4; 176. Ryan Sheer, Edinboro, 34:21.3; 177. Jason Beausoleil, Mass.-Lowell, 34:23.3; 178. Lee Swanson, Mars Hill, 34:32.7; 179. Ricky Armstrong, Mo. Southern St., 34:56.2; 180. Perry Morris, St. Andrews, 35:08.0.
181. Will Ellis, Harding, 35:17.4; 182. Isaac Garcia, Mo. Southern St., 35:31.9; 183. Adam Stoppelwerth, Northern Ky., 36:01.5; 184. Ben Crenshaw, Mars Hill, 36:36.8; 185. Job Kemboi, Abilene Christian, 36:53.9; 186. James Lloyd, St. Andrews, 39:10.7; 187. Patrick Hogan, St. Andrews, 39:12.0.
