The 2008-09 year was marked by many highlights in each of Bethel University's 18 varsity sports.  Over the course of the summer, we will continue to relive those highlights sport-by-sport.  We continue our series with men's cross country.

A season after Dan Greeno (Jr., St. Michael, Minn.) and Carl Gladitsch (Sr., Bloomer, Wis.) became Bethel's first two male Cross Country NCAA All-Americans, the two were back to try to repeat their feat. While Greeno was able to duplicate his honors by shaving nearly seven seconds off his 2007 outing, the Royals also gave a strong performance at the MIAC Championship meet on November 1, 2008.

On a gorgeous, sunny day in November, Greeno and Gladitsch helped propel the Bethel Royals men's cross country team to a fourth overall finish in Saturday's MIAC Championships. 

Greeno finished with a time of 25:30.35 to take fourth place individually, 29 seconds behind leader Dubuol Ruon of St. Olaf.  Gladitsch followed closely behind Greeno to take sixth place with a time of 25:36.55.  The Royals set a record Saturday placing three runners on the MIAC All-Conference team for the first time in school history.  By virtue of finishing in the top 15 runners, Greeno and Gladitsch earned all-conference honors for the second consecutive year.  Tyler Hinrichs (Sr., Clara City, Minn.) also received his first all-conference award by placing 15th Saturday.  Bethel's fourth place finish at the MIAC Championships held at Como Park Golf Course, is the highest in school history. 

Jordan Groh (Sr., Rockford, Ill.), and Austin Hinrichs (So., Clara City, Minn.) rounded out the top five runners for Bethel on the day.  Groh went on to finish 35th while Austin Hinrichs would finish 36th. 

Bethel begins its season with a dual meet against Augsburg College at Riverside Park at 9 a.m. on Saturday, September 5.