ELASH, Ill. -- The Siena Heights men's cross country team finished 29th in a 37 team field at the NAIA Championships, on Saturday.
SHU ran in a total time of 2:15:08.80 for an average of 27:01.76 on the 8k course. The Saints totaled 787 points. The race had 331 individuals racing. Southern Oregon won with a total of 122 points, running the course in 2:06:44.90 as a team for an average of 25:20.98.
Crossing the finish line first for the Saints was Stephen Merchant, who came in at 26:05.60 for 81st place. Earning the title of National Champion with a course time of 23:50.20 was Jackson Thomas from Bacone (Okla.).
Anthony Vermilye finished in 117th at 26:19.00 while Kyler Vanwormer finished in 26:52.90 for 169th place.
The final two finishers for Siena Heights was Timothy Young and Nicholas Barth, finishing in 188th and 232nd, respectively. Young crossed the finish line at 27:08.10. Barth finished at 28:46.20.
Other WHAC schools competing were Cornerstone, eighth, Aquinas, 22nd, and Indiana Tech, 25th.