WARSAW, Ind. - CIU men's cross country hit the course for their final meet of the 2023 season at the NCCAA Cross Country National Championship. They traveled to Indiana to compete at Warsaw Community High School on a cool Friday morning against 14 other NCCAA schools nationwide. The team finished in 10th place with a total time of 2:28:34. 

Josh Zhang led the charge, finishing just shy of the top 50 at 28:52.90. Gavin Barfield and Nathaniel Long were the next two to cross the line, clocking in at 29:12.60 and 29:52.30. 

On the heels of Long, Joel Baumgarten recorded a time of 29:58.40. Joey Canning (30:38.10), Spencer Evans (30:56.60), and Landon Battermann finished in less than a minute of each other (31:21.90). Spencer Dyke closed out the competition with a final time of 34:14.30.

What Coach Michael Knight is saying: "Both teams battled it out on a very difficult course, and did a good job competing! Josh, Rose, Lydia, and Gavin did a good job staying strong through the race. Bethany has excelled in two sports this year-- she still brought her energy and drive today. Our middle pack of guys held on, and Shoshanna and Olivia worked together well!"