Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - The seventh-ranked Missouri Southern men's cross country program finished 11th as a team and freshman Gidieon Kimutai placed fourth individually as the Lions competed at the 2018 NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships hosted by Slippery Rock University.
Kimutai traversed the muddy 10k course in a time of 32:11.7 to place fourth and earn All-American honors. He joins former Lion Vincent Kiprop as Southern freshman to finish in the top five of the National Championship. Kiprop was the runner-up his freshman season.
Michael Shanahan placed 71st in a time 34:08.2, while Jared Ozee was 86th in a time of 72nd. Kevin Koester was 120th in a time of 34:49.2, while Cody Berry placed 128thin a time of 34:55.6.
Josh Webb (131st) and Nickson Kiptoo (165th) finished in times of 34:58.6 and 35:27.2, respectively.
The race was cold and muddy and the first start was called back after a collision in the first 100 meters. The second start was good, but still more drama when cramped lines at the first tun resulted in a few runners tumbling.
Kimutai stayed glued to the lead pack throughout the whole race. He was as high as third at both the 5.8k and 7.8k marks and held on for a top-five finish.
Grand Valley State won its first men's National Championship with 89 points. Colorado Mines was second with 99 points, while Western Colorado finished third with 117. Adams State was fourth, followed by Sioux Falls, Saginaw Valley State, Chico State, Alaska-Anchorage, Augustana and Missouri Southern to round out the top 11 schools.
Southern finishes just outside the top ten and has its best finish since a seventh-place finish two seasons ago.
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