Huntington, IN — In most instances, collegiate athletics help bring out the best in people, offering lessons and remembrances that will last lifetimes.

In others, it can be cruelly unfair, perhaps teaching more about life at those moments.

The latter was exactly the case Saturday afternoon at the Huntington University cross country course.

Sophomore Nick Adkins missed out on what would have been his second All-Mid-Central Conference performance by an apparent nano-second, finishing tied for 12th place in a time of 26:40 with Taylor University’s Josh Edgerton. Since MCC rules dictate that the top 12 finishers in the conference meet are All-MCC runners — there are no such thing as “ties” within the procedure manual — meet officials had to decide whether Adkins or Edgerton would be awarded the final 12th-place position.

They chose Edgerton.

It was a bitter pill for Adkins and Goshen head cross country coach Doug Yoder to swallow, given the fact that Adkins was leading Edgerton for the majority of the race and was finally caught at the finish line. As Edgerton raced behind Adkins, a photo finish ensued.

Only there were no cameras available.

“If there had actually been a photo finish I think the order would have been reversed,” Yoder said following the meet. “Nick’s time and (Edgerton’s) are identical. It could have been called either way.”

The finish will undoubtedly set up discussion for a possible rules change at next year’s MCC coaches conference, but that would be too little too late for Adkins’ sophomore campaign, as Goshen’s lead runner throughout all of 2005 missed out on what would have been his second All-MCC honor. Adkins finished in ninth place as a freshman in the 2004 MCC Championships, ironically running the exact same time in that meet as he did Saturday. Adkins was primed to finish as a four-time All-MCC performer, but Saturday’s finish line decision will keep that from happening.

“It’s disappointing, but what can you do?” Yoder said. “We’ve still got the regional left to run, and we’ll train as hard as we can for that.”

If there was any solace to this disparaging twist of fate, it was the fact that Adkins’ time — albeit quick enough to set up the controversy — was far from his best effort on the year. Just a week earlier, Adkins posted a 26:25 clip at Manchester College. That time would have finished him in 12th place Saturday, well ahead of Edgerton.

“Huntington’s course is not necessarily an easy one,” Yoder said regarding the slower times at the top of the men’s heat. “The conditions in which you run make a big impact on final times.”

Such was the case with sophomore Jake Gillette, Goshen’s number two runner. Adkins’ complement all season long, Gillette finished 35th overall in a time of 28:11, almost a full minute off his pace at Manchester.

Goshen’s best introspective effort came from senior Aaron Aeschilman, who broke the 29-minute barrier for the first time this season in running a 28:29 clip, good for 42nd place overall. Junior Alex Bouwman was next in line for the Leafs (54th place, 29:16) followed by classmate Sam Moyer (66th place, 31:24).

“Aaron Aeschilman continues to come up with surprises as he ran another outstanding race,” Yoder said. “We are very pleased to have four runners under the 29-minute barrier. Alex Bouwman gets stronger each week after his three-week bout with the flu. The potential to have five or six runners under 29 for the regional meet is a very realistic goal.”

As a team on Saturday, Goshen finished in seventh place, garnering 159 total points. Indiana Wesleyan University won the team event with 44 points, followed by Spring Arbor University (61 points), Taylor University (81 points), Marian College (85 points), Huntington University (90 points) and Bethel College (158 points). Goshen defeated Grace College in the team scoring, as the Lancers finished eighth with 230 points.

Spring Arbor’s Herbert Rotich won the individual medal, winning the men’s event in a time of 25:07.

Goshen will next compete in the NAIA Region VIII Championships. That meet is slated for Saturday, Nov. 5 at Aquinas College. Men’s race time is set for 12:45 p.m.

Goshen Individual Results
Nick Adkins (13th) — 26:40
Jake Gillette (35th) — 28:11
David Rumsey (39th) — 28:29
Aaron Aeschilman (42nd) — 28:29
Alex Bouwman (55th) — 29:16
Sam Moyer (66th) — 31:42
Nelson Kling (72nd) — 32:30
Lucas Vachon (77th) — 38:50