The Hillsdale College men's cross country team took a big step forward at this year's 2022 NCAA DII Midwest Regional this Saturday.
Racing in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Chargers took 12th as a team against an always-tough regional field, improving by seven spots over the team's 19th place finish in 2021.
Hillsdale achieved a better finish despite not having an All-Region finisher thanks to a strong top-to-bottom performance throughout its lineup, with four runners finishing in the top 75 to give the Chargers a strong pack in Saturday's 10K event.
Leading the way once again was junior Mark Sprague, who finished 33rd overall with a massive personal best of 32:09.57, over two full minutes better than his previous best effort at the 10K distance in cross country.
Close behind was sophomore Alex Mitchell in 46th place, also posting a nearly two-minute 10K personal best of 32:21.18. Mitchell was followed closely by two more sophomores -- Micah Vanderkooi in 57th place with a personal best time of 32:41.87, and Richie Johnston in 63rd place in a time of 32:43.77 for his first-ever collegiate 10K as well.
Sophomore Donnie McArdle placed 115th with a personal best time of 33:40.92 as well to round out Hillsdale's scoring finishers, and junior Isaac Waffle placed 118th in a time of 33:45.81 in his first-ever collegiate 10K.
The massive improvements bode well for the Chargers, who are a young team overall. Hillsdale could bring back its entire lineup from this year's regional intact depending on whether or not Sprague and Waffle choose to use their extra year of eligibility, while Hillsdale also has some exciting young runners who didn't compete in this year's regional that could push for a spot in the future.
Photo Courtesy of Findlay Athletics