by Lana Douglas
staff writer
The men’s cross country team was ranked 9th nationally after winning the Appalachian Athletic Conference championship earlier this month but only managed a 27th-place showing at the NAIA National Championships last week.
The Nationals were held in Vancouver, Wash., on Nov. 21, and were hosted by Cascade Collegiate Conference and Concordia (Ore.) University.
The men’s team made it to Nationals two years ago; at that time the mindset was more “we made it,” said Coach Rodney Stoker. “This year the plan was to do really well.”
Stoker attributes the team’s overall performance to a bad day. A few of the guys were not feeling well and were not able to run as well as they did at the AAC championships, according to Stoker.
“More than anything I’m disappointed in myself…because they are way better than that,” said Stoker.
Bryson Harper and Zach Buffington led the Lions with 67th and 71st place finishes, and the team overall finished 27th.
Stoker has plans to train over winter and be ready for the indoor meets in the spring.
“We’ll be back,” said Stoker.