USI Men's Cross Country Finishes Sixth at Nationals
FINAL RESULTS
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Sophomores Dustin Emerick (Elmwood, Illinois) and Brendan Devine (Bethel, New York) each earned All-America honors Saturday as the No. 16 University of Southern Indiana men’s cross country team finished sixth out of 24 teams at the NCAA II Cross Country Championships, which were held at the USI Cross Country Course.
USI’s performance marked the third-highest finish at the national meet in the program’s storied history, and its best placement since placing fifth at the 1983 NCAA II Championships. USI was third in 1982, eighth in 1997 and 2007, and ninth in 1990.
Emerick led the Screaming Eagles, who finished with 228 team points, with a 28th-place finish and a 10k time of 32 minutes, 13.30 seconds. Devine finished 39th with a time of 32 minutes, 30.80 seconds.
It marks the third time in school history that the Eagles have had two runners earn All-America honors in cross country in the same season. Paul Jellema and Tim Sirbek earned All-America honors in 2007, while Mike Atkinson as well as USI and GLVC Hall of Famer Jim Nolan garnered All-America honors in 1983.
USI nearly had a third All-American as junior Andrew Dixon (Petersburg, Indiana) finished 44th overall, just five spots and seven seconds away from the cut. Dixon crossed the finish line in 32 minutes, 41.2 seconds.
Sophomore David Goodman (Valparaiso, Indiana) was 87th, while senior Brandon Campbell (Portage, Indiana) finished his cross country career with a 93rd-place effort.
Adams State College won the team championship, while Adams States Reuben Mwei was the individual champion. The team title is Adams State’s second straight national championship.