The Penn State Behrend men's cross country team placed 12th out of 25 teams with a team score of 335 at NCAA Division III Regional Championships hosted by Houghton University Saturday afternoon, while Alfred State College came in 22nd place and Hilbert College came in 24th. There were a total of 176 runners from 25 teams participating in the 8k race.
Behrend junior Kody Klein led the way for the Lions, running a season-best time of 25:28.0 for 26th place. Klein placed 10 spots higher than his finish at last year's regional race to earn a spot on the All-Region team. The next top finisher for Behrend was Lucas Boyd who scored a 43rd place finish with a personal-best time of 25:49.3. Aiden Domencic and Bennett Kerr registered times of 26:55.7 and 27:05.2 for 81st and 85th place, respectively.
Klein now awaits to find out if he earns a bid in to the NCAA Division III Championships
Mamadou Barry was the first Pioneer across the line with a time of 28:00.5 for 114 place. Andrew Zielinski and Maxwell Chiarella finished back-to-back for 144th and 145th place. Jayden Kamp ran a 30:28.3 to come in 150th place, while Carter Riley ran a 30:44.0 for 153rd place. Jeremy Pennock rounded out the Pioneers roster to finish in 172nd place.
For Hilbert, Nick Baritot finished in 28:55.8 for 132nd place, while Josh Kidder ran the course in 31:02.8 for 158th place. Kenny Trometer recorded a 31:48.7 for 164th place. Kody Harrison and Sam Holden finished in 33:17.3 (169th place) and 34:26.8 (174th place) to round out the Hawk runners.
Additionally, three Pitt-Greensburg cross country runners took part in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional meet hosted by Lock Haven University on Saturday. Ethan Barrick, Dylan Ackerman and Peyton Hause all took part in the race representing Pitt-Greensburg.
Barrick had the highest finish for a Bobcat since Zach Kocian in 2005. Barrick finished as in 161st place with a time of 29:00.9. Ackerman had a PR in his time as he ran the 8K in 29:15.4. Ackerman finished just six spots behind Barrick. Hause finished in 189th place with a time of 31:04.9.
With this meet, it wraps up a successful season for the Bobcats under first-year head coach Jeremy Eshleman.