CLARKSVILLE, Ark. – The MACU Men's Cross Country team put together its best ever team finish in its final race before the Sooner Athletic Conference Championship as the Evangels took second at the Ozarks Invitational being ran at the Clarksville High School Cross Country course in Clarksville, Arkansas on Saturday.
Once again, freshman Jaden Rodriguez paced the Evangels with his second-best personal 8k time of 26:39.0, which allowed him to claim third as an individual by edging out Northwest Arkansas's David Sanchez by a second at the finish line.
The mark is yet another that cemented itself in MACU's top 10 record book as it is the fourth-fastest time, just barely edging out Alexander Busienei's 26:39.67 recorded at the Missouri Southern Stampede on Sept. 19, 2009.
After running his first collegiate race last week at the DBU Old Glory Gallop, freshman Alexander Pebeahsy set a new personal-best when he crossed the line in sixth with a time of 27:07.0, edging out NWA's Joseph Ramirez by just a half-second. The new mark is the ninth-fastest 8k time in MACU's books, sitting just ahead of his own placement of 27:27.0 at last week's meet.
Freshman Cameron Pearson also put together his personal-best 8k time with his 11th place finish, turning in a 28:06.2 to supplant is time of 28:25.4 tallied last week at the DBU Old Glory Gallop. Freshman Aidan Collins finished immediately behind Pearson at the line for 12th with a 28:09.8.
Freshman Connor Gerth recorded MACU's last top five scoring mark for the race with a time of 28:55.7 to come in 16th, placing just ahead of teammate junior Ethan Hillis in 17th with a 28:57.8.
Mid-America Christian will now make its preparations for the SAC Championships will take place on the much familiar Eldon Lyon Park course in Bethany, Oklahoma on Nov. 9. It will be the third time the Evangels will run the course in the last two years.
