GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. -- The Trine University men's cross country team placed in the top-10 at the Knight Invitational hosted by Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Mich.
The team had an overall finish of sixth place out of 24 teams with a score of 193 points. Host school Calvin finished as team champion with 43 points. John Carroll (Ohio) University was second with 121 points and Case Western Reserve (Ohio) University took third with 131 points.
Individually for Trine, junior Jack Beakas (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) was the only Trine competitor to place in the top-15 with a time of 25:32.9. earning him 11th place. Second on the team was junior Derek Miller (Shipshewana, Ind./Westview) with a 22nd place finish and a time of 25:46.4.
Taking the third and fourth spots on the team were senior Villis Vuskalns (Indianapolis, Ind./Beech Grove) with a time of 26:20.2 and junior Neil O'Brien (Whiteland, Ind./Roncalli) finishing three spots behind Vuskalns at 48th with a time of 26:25.0.
Rounding out the final scoring times was turned in by junior Harrison Korkos (Rochester, Ind./Rochester) who finished 94th in a time of 27:05.8.
Finishing off the varsity squad and finishing back-to-back were juniors Levi Neuzerling (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) and Alex Amaro (Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia Lutheran) with times of 27:34.3 and 27:36.9, respectively.
"The men's team ran tough today in a loaded field," said Head Coach Zach Raber. "Jack, Derek and Neil all had significant PR's. The other varsity guys were close. We'll get the chance to come back to Calvin for the regional and this experience will serve them well."
Up next, the team will compete at the Ray Bullock Invitational hosted by Taylor University in Upland, Ind on Friday Sept. 20, 2019 at 5 pm.