Phenomenal runs from two of the Hillsdale College men's cross country team saw the Chargers get multiple first-team All-G-MAC honorees at Saturday's 2023 G-MAC Championships in Canton, Ohio, while Hillsdale finished sixth in a tightly contested team race.
Junior Alex Mitchell placed third overall, in 25:09.9 to lead the Chargers and earn the second All-G-MAC honor and first first-team All-G-MAC honor of his career. Mitchell hung with the lead pack for most of the race on the way to his best-ever finish at a G-MAC Championship meet.
He was joined in the top 10 by fellw junior Richie Johnston, who nearly matched his personal best on a wet and windy day to place 10th overall in 25:37.2 and receive All-G-MAC honors in cross country for the first time.
Junior Micah Vanderkooi placed 28th for Hillsdale, in 26:07.9, freshman Caleb Youngstedt placed 43rd in 26:32.3, and junior Donny McArdle placed 51st in 26:39.9 to round out the scoring runners for the Chargers, who finished with 129 points, eight shy of fifth-place Malone's 121 in a tight team race. Walsh repeated as G-MAC champions with 53 points.
Junior Ross Kuhn placed 63rd (26:59.7) and junior Caleb Oser finished 69th (27:19.9) as well for Hillsdale.
The Chargers will refocus as a team for the 2023 NCAA DII Midwest Regional Championships, to be held on Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Angel Mounds Historic Site in Evansville, Indiana. Mitchell will have a shot to contend for an individual qualifying berth to the 2023 NCAA DII Championships on Nov. 18 in Joplin, Missouri, while Hillsdale will look to put a peak performance together as a team as well in the tough regional race.
Photo by Edward Smith, Malone Athletics