Hanak and Harber Finish in the Top-Five in Strong Showing at Loaded NAIA Great Lakes Challenge

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The No. 8 Taylor men's cross country team produced a strong showing on Saturday morning at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge--Maroon Division, finishing fourth out of 22 schools, 11 of which are ranked in the NAIA Top 25.

As a team, the Trojans (68-11) ran a time of 2:04:52.30, their best of the season by almost two minutes and the third-fastest team time in program history, under 30 seconds away from the best time run by a Taylor squad.

Ryan Hanak and Luke Harber paced the way for the Trojans, finishing in third and fifth respectively, by blowing away their previous personal bests by over 25 seconds each. Hanak crossed the line at 24:23.00 while Harber was just behind at 24:24.30. After posting the new personal bests, Hanak and Harber sit in fourth and fifth for fastest individual times in program history, only trailing three athletes who all earned multiple NAIA All-American Selections.

Alex Ortiz was the third Trojan to cross the finish line and posted a personal-best time of 25:12.30, followed by Joel Mumaw at 25:17.50. Freshman Ethan Morgan capped the scoring runners for TU with a new PR of 25:35.30. Jared Stayte and Jordan Burden finished just outside of scoring for TU but had incredible races clocking 25:39.70 and 25:42.50, each of which was a new personal best. Two more Trojans posted new personal bests, with Bryce Noble finishing at 25:55.20 and Nathan Meister clocking in at 26:09.90.

TU finished ahead of 10 teams ranked or receiving votes in the most recent NAIA Top-25 poll, highlighted by No. 17 Aquinas, No. 19 Saint Francis of Illinois, and No. 20 Shawnee State. All three teams that finished ahead of the Trojans are ranked in the top 15.

WHITE DIVISION (Results)

Several TU runners also competed in the White Division at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge Saturday afternoon, and Zach McKowen led their efforts with a 26:16.9, good for 15th of 226 individuals. 

An additional seven Trojans in that race recorded their personal bests: Keenan Clegg, Grayson Rasmus, Hunter Smith, Kyle Sweeney, Paul Gabrielsen, Noah Kelly and Luke Mumaw. 

The Trojans will compete next in the Crossroads League Championships back in Upland, Indiana, against a field of teams that includes six teams ranked or receiving votes. The men's race is set to begin at 11:30 am on Friday, November 8.