Men's results | Women's results

EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- Described by their coach as the 'best team SBU has ever had,' the SBU men's cross country capped off a successful season and the careers of five seniors with a 15th place finish in their first-ever team appearance at the 2009 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships at the University of Southern Indiana.

Senior Michael Pierce finished 47th with an overall time of 32:45.5 in the 10k event. Sophomore Will Hansen was 69th at 33:07. Freshman Phillip Miller was 110th at 34:02. Seniors Cameron Ayers (120th, 34:10.8), Michael McCampbell (128th, 34:20.9), Jeremy Glassmaker (134th, 34:30.3) and Shawn Etzenhouser (138th, 34:39.7) finished up the cross country part of their SBU run.

Though they fell short of their meet goal of a top eight team finish, head coach Corey McElhaney praised his entire group. "Our guys were excited to be here. Fifteenth in the nation is still a good showing, the best in our history. This was the toughest course we've ran on all year. We battled some things (illness, blisters) and we also got good showings from our underclassmen, which bodes well for the future."

McElhaney has coached the senior group for four years, three as the head coach and one as a volunteer assistant coach. "It's been special to experience the time I've had with them," he said. "Even though we didn't get what we wanted at this meet, our main goal was to get here. They went out and put it on the line and did what they could. Everything beyond getting here was icing on the cake."

Pierce finished his SBU career earning All-American honors in cross country (2007) as well as in indoor and outdoor track and field. Pierce and his wife Christine Pierce, who's also an SBU runner, will graduate in December. McCampbell, Ayers, Glassmaker and Etzenhouser will compete in the track and field seasons through the end of the '09-10 school year.

Adams State won the men's team title among 24 teams, with four runners in the top seven (for team standings) including individual champion Reuben Mwei (30:27.8). Adams State also won the 6k women's title. Jessica Pixler of Seattle Pacific was the women's individual champion (20:22.6).