HOLLAND, Mich.-- The Trine men's cross country team placed third in the MIAA Jamboree, held Saturday at Hope.
The performance of Thunder runners earned the team 102 points. The effort was Trine's best finish in any MIAA race since the team finished second in the conference in 2007. Austin Ganger (Mishawaka, Ind./Mishawaka) led the way for the Thunder as he placed 15th. Ganger ran a time of 26:32 on the 8K course. Calvin College won the Jamboree with a team score of 22 points.
The next five Trine runners all finished within nine seconds of each other. Freshman Nicholas Zak (St. John, Ind./Hanover Central), junior Garrett Benedict (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) and freshman Kody Snyder (Burnettsville, Ind./Twin Lakes) finished in spots 20-22.
Zak ran a time of 26:34, with Benedict following at 26:36 and Snyder coming in at 26:38. Sophomore Collin Elek (Osceola, Ind./Penn) rounded out Trine's top five with a time of 26:42.
Senior Michael Becker (Wauseon, Ohio/Wauseon) finished in the group of runners coming across within nine seconds of each other, placing sixth among Trine runners with a time of 26:43.
The top five Thunder runners combined to average a time of 26:32.8.
The results of the Jamboree count one-third towards the final MIAA standings. The MIAA Championship, slated for Oct. 31 will make up the remaining two-thirds.
Trine will compete in the Bethel College Invitational on Friday, Oct. 9.