EVANSVILLE, IND. - The University of Mount Olive men's cross country team recorded their highest overall team finish coming in 11th at the NCAA Division II National Championships Saturday morning in Evansville, Ind. Adam Craig and Jonathan Dahlke both picked up All-American laurels as they finished in the top-40 racers at the meet.
MEET INFORMATION
Results
Location: Evansville, Ind.
INSIDE THE RESULTS
| Men's 10k | |||
| Name | Time | Team Score | Event Finish |
| Adam Craig | 31:17.5 | 9 | 10 |
| Jonathan Dahlke | 31:49.6 | 29 | 36 |
| Tai Smith | 32:56.8 | 85 | 102 |
| Alexandre Durand | 33:41.6 | 126 | 148 |
| Colin Fisher | 33:42.5 | 127 | 149 |
| Daniel Francken | 33:58.7 | (145) | 168 |
| Jereamy Hall | 34:24.6 | (173) | 198 |
| Team Total | 2:43:28 | 376 | 11th of 32 |
KEY STATS
- Adam Craig led the Trojans to the teams highest national finish in program history as he crossed the finish line 10th with a time of 31:17.5. Craig at his fastest was in seventh place as he crossed the 2k and 3k splits. As he came across the 5k he had fallen to 18th place but in the final five kilometers he climbed as high as 9th and crossed the finish line 10th. He averaged a 2:56.8 kilometer throughout the race. The top-10 finish was Craig's best performance at nationals and guaranteed him his second consecutive All-American honor.
- Jonathan Dahlke earned his first All-American honor with a 36th place finish coming in at 31:49.6. Dahlke was as high as 14th when he crossed the 1k split. He ran his fastest split between the three and four-kilometer marks with a 2:45.8 time.
- Tai Smith was the third Trojan to cross the finish line finishing in 32:56.8 minutes. Smith's two best splits came in the first kilometer (2:57.2) and between the eighth and ninth-kilometers (2:57.3) as he averaged a 3:06.1 time per kilometer.
NOTABLES
- The 11th place finish is the highest in program history for the men's cross country team.
- Two All-Americans is also another program high as Craig was the sole recipient of the honor last season.
- Four Trojan runners made their nationals debut.
AWARDS & HONORS
- Adam Craig and Jonathan Dahlke both earned All-American laurels as they finished in the top-40 finishers. The award was Craig's second consecutive and Dahlke's first.
INSIDE THE RACE WITH ADAM CRAIG
"I felt really good about the race," said senior Adam Craig. "It went the way I wanted as I set myself a goal to make it in the top-20 and I finished 10th which is great and exactly what I wanted. The race was my kind of race just churn away and do what you have to do. It wasn't too tactical, it was just about the elements. A little mud under foot and a bit of wind but that is what I am used to coming from back home in Scotland. The highest placing finish was good but it was good to have the team back me up as well. Eleventh place is the highest finish in team history and it backs up my performance and Jon's (Dahlke) performance and the rest of the guys as well. We had four guys on the team who were first time National competitors and it was great to see that they performed the way they did. And becoming an All-American, it is just another one to add to the title. I have a nice little wooden trophy here that goes with it and a medal to add the mantelpiece. But yeah I just look to continue to go at it and get as many of these as I can the rest of the year."
NEXT UP
UMO's cross country season concludes at nationals. The Trojans track and field season begins on December 3 at the UNCG Early Bird Duals.