BISMARCK, ND – Behind the best performance of his collegiate career,
Caleb Hansen led the University of Mary to a 6
th place finish at the 2023 Northern Sun Men's Cross Country Championships. The 8K race was hosted by the University of Mary at the McDowell Dam course.
"The men shocked the conference as most didn't expect we would break the top 10," said Marauders Head Coach
Chris Lessard. "Getting 6th shows that although we are a small team, we are mighty. These men believe in what we are doing and it shows. We are going to stay hungry as we head to the NCAA Regional meet in two weeks!"
One of two runners on the squad of six who had raced in college prior to this season, Hansen finished eighth overall to earn first team All-Northern Sun honors. Racing at a familiar location, Hansen completed the circuit in a clocking of 24:44.4. This is his best finish in any race this season and the first time he has paced the Marauders in a meet.
Guillermo Fregoso, the only other UMary runner with collegiate experience, claimed 20
th in a time of 25:05.9. The junior from Twin Falls, ID, earned second team All-NSIC honors as was a first team finisher in 2022.
Freshmen round out the rest of the Marauders team.
Eli Hansen, Caleb's brother, placed 25
th overall in his first college championship race, traversing the course in 25:26.0.
Andrew Scheer finished 47
th overall in 26:01.3. Wrapping up the team scoring for the Marauders was
Luke Fundak, placing 91
st (27:19.6) in the 144-runner 13 team championship meet. Fundak's sister Andrijana earned all-conference honors in the women's race.
Max Lefor claimed 82
nd (28:19.0).
Augustana won the team title with 56 points and a first place individual finish by Ryan Hartman. Minnesota Duluth (60) was second, followed by MSU Moorhead (96), Minnesota State (117), Sioux Falls (130) and UMary (169).
The Marauders next race at the 2023 NCAA Central Region Championships in Joplin, MO, on November 4, for the chance to advance to the NCAA national championships on November 18, also in Joplin.
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