RESULTS

ST. PAUL—The Royals finished eighth at the 2016 MIAC Cross Country Championships. Evan Hatton led the team, completing the 8K course in a time of 27:05.7, good for 30th place overall. Freshman John Mark Shields finished second, recording a time of 27:30.5 (40th overall), a 13-second personal record.
 
"Today was a good learning experience in tactical championship racing," said head coach Joe Stephens.

The squad was hoping to better its sixth-place finish from last year, but a bad case of the stomach flu knocked Anders Rasmussen, the team's No. 2 performer all season, out of the race. "With a very key guy out today, the team score was a bit off," Stephens said.

David Huffman posted a season best 27:37 (46th overall) to cross the line as the team's third finisher.

Sam Nelson (57th, 27:46.1) and Andy Barnhart (63rd, 27:54.1) were the Royals' final two scorers.

Huffman was the only upperclassmen in the top five, giving the program much reason to be optimistic about what is ahead. "We're so young," said Stephens. "I'm very excited for the future.

"I'm so very proud of all these guys."

Next up for the Royals is the Central Region championship meet, Saturday, Nov. 12 in Northfield, Minn.