Grand Rapids, MI — The Goshen College men’s cross country team concluded its season at Saturday’s NAIA Region VIII Championships at Riverside Park, placing 10th in the 11-team meet.

Sophomore Nick Adkins paced the team in its final event of the year, finishing 21st in a time of 26:41, just one second slower than his near All-Mid-Central Conference finish two weeks ago (click here for article).

“Nick Adkins again ran a solid time for us,” said Doug Yoder, Goshen head coach. “Despite just missing making All-MCC a couple of weeks back, Nick can rest knowing he finished strong. With his determination and work ethic, he’ll be even better next year.”

Classmate Jake Gillette was Goshen’s second finisher in a personal-best time of 27:29, taking 46th place overall while shattering his MCC event clip of 28:11 in the process. That clip — and finish — were vast improvements over last year’s 28:11 48th-place result in the regional meet.

“Jake is another runner who is intent on improving in the off-season,” Yoder said. “His best days are ahead of him.”

Goshen’s’ third- and fourth-best runners (freshman David Rumsey, 70th place 28:26) and senior Aaron Aeschilman (71st place, 28:26) both made improvements from their MCC clip of 28:29 two weeks earlier. Junior Alex Bouwman was the fifth Leaf runner to cross the finish line in a clip of 29:33 (87th place), while freshman Nelson Kling ran a personal best time of 31:50 in finishing 106th. There were 110 registered finishes in the 11-team event.

“Most everyone on the men’s team were within a few seconds of their season-best times, with Nelson running his fastest time ever,” Yoder said. “We can be proud of our efforts this season with high hopes for the near future.”

Goshen’s 236 points was low enough to defeat fellow MCC rival Grace College (333 points). Aquinas College won the team event with just 39 points. Indiana Wesleyan University finished second with 85 points, Spring Arbor University third with 120, Taylor University fourth with 128, Siena Heights University fifth with 130, Marian College sixth with 140, Huntington University seventh with 149, Cornerstone University eighth with 176 and Bethel College ninth with 224.

Spring Arbor’s Herbert Rotich won the individual medal, taking the meet in a time of 25:18.

Check back to this website for continuous off-season information, including recruit signings and team news. To contact Doug Yoder, call him at (574) 535-7495 or click here to send him an email.

Goshen Individual Results
Nick Adkins (21st) — 26:41
Jake Gillette (46th) — 27:29
David Rumsey (70th) — 28:25
Aaron Aeschilman (71st) — 28:26
Alex Bouwman (87th) — 29:33
Ramadhan Onyango (95th) — 30:23
Nelson Kling (106th) — 31:50
Sam Moyer (108th) — 32:12