The Tabor College men?s cross-country team finished fourth in the Friends Invitational Friday at Lake Afton.
Southwestern placed first, followed by Newman, Hutchin?son, Tabor, Hesston, Bethel, John Brown, Oklahoma Wesleyan, Southwestern Christian and Sterling.
Dylan Crawford was the top finisher for Tabor, placing 26th in 29 minutes, 16 seconds. Jacob Heil was 27th in 26:19.
?Dylan ran really well over the last mile and made up a big lead that Jacob had on him, outkicking him in the final 150 meters,? coach Dan Swaney said.
Hillsboro freshman Nathan Vogel placed 39th in 30:09, followed by Matt Spurgeon (50th, 30:51), Justin Ball (54th, 31:12), Richard Nance (76th, 33:17), Teal Stutzman (91st, 35:12), Eric Funk (94th, 35:48) and Quentin Brown (99th, 36:10).
?This was a good start to the season at the full-race distance,? Swaney said. ?It was very hot and humid which I think slowed the times down.
?Our grouping wasn?t quite as close as it was at the J.K. Gold Classic (the previous week), but I think everyone will do better under better conditions.?
Freshman Brielle Lund was the women?s top finisher, placing 14th in 20:52.
?Brielle was running her first collegiate 5K and handled it well,? Swaney said. ?She had a strong start and held her position throughout the race before moving up into 14th with less than a half mile to go.
?She was the 10th runner out of KCAC schools so I think that gives her a decent chance at finishing the season in the top 15 and earning all-conference honors.?
Sophomore Erin Flaming took 33rd in 21:43, which was 50 seconds faster than last year.
?I think she would have been much closer to the personal record she ran here at conference championships last year if the weather had been a little nicer,? Swaney said.
Also competing for Tabor were Makenzie King (57th, 23:23), Elissa Richert (80th, 25:45) and Jordan Scheer (94th, 29:40).
Coming?After a week off the Jays will host their invitational Sept. 25 at Cottonwood Point at Marion Reservoir.
