Cleveland, Ohio -November 21, 2009 - Under the guidance of second-year head coach Keith Roberts Jr., the nationally ranked Heidelberg University men’s cross country team earned an automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships following its second place finish at the Great Lakes Regional last weekend.
The Berg entered the race ranked 21st in the nation and stepped up to finish 18th overall in the 32-team field. Baldwin Wallace College hosted the event at Highland Park Golf Course in Cleveland, Ohio.
Claiming the team championship was North Central College with 50 points, while Williams College took home runner-up honors with 181 points. The Berg accumulated 462 points. Heidelberg was one of three institutions representing the Ohio Athletic Conference at the national race. Ohio Northern University had two individuals in the race, while Mount Union College finished in 32nd.
The Heidelberg program was making its fourth-straight appearance at the NCAA Championships and its sixth overall (1997, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009).
Leading the way for the Berg was senior Devin Butcher (Bowling Green, Ohio / Bowling Green) in 60th. Butcher finished the eight kilometer race in 26.37.5. Following Butcher in a time of 26.48.9 was fellow classmate Jake Lemon (Oak, Harbor, Ohio / Oak Harbor). Lemon stood 85th in the final standings, while senior Scott Lasch (Huron, Ohio / Huron) finished right behind in 86th with a time of 26:49.1.
Freshman Bobby Over (Wadsworth, Ohio / Wadsworth) (27:04.2) and sophomore Jordan Karnes (Edgerton, Ohio / Edgerton) (27:08.4) finished 112nd and 119th, respectively.
Rounding out Heidelberg’s runners was sophomore Jamie Martin (Wooster, Ohio / Triway) in at 27:23.3 followed by sophomore John Gogle (Sunbury, Ohio / Big Walnut) with a time of 28:06.8.