SHERMAN, Texas – Behind the performance of SCAC Runner-of-the-Year Taylor Piske, Trinity University earned the program's third SCAC men's cross country title in four years Saturday morning at a wet and muddy Stone Creek Golf Club. Team Results | Individual Results | Official Website | Facebook Photo Album
A year after losing its crown to Colorado College, Trinity University rebounded with one of the best finishes in SCAC men's cross country history, posting just the second perfect score in the history of the meet and the first since 2005.
Piske, a senior who had placed second in the last two conference championships, earned medalist honors with a first-place finish of 27:37.8. Sophomore Michael Erickson (27:52.5), freshman Oliver Langselius (28:04.6), senior Austin Brown (28:09.0) and sophomore Jacob Hammond (28:19.0) completed the historic finish by placing second, third, fourth and fifth, respectively - matching DePauw University's feat of perfection a decade ago.
Langselius was also named SCAC's Men's Newcomer-of-the-Year for his conference-best finish among first-year runners.
The Texas Tigers had four other runners earn All-SCAC honors. Freshman Brian Wongchotigul was ninth (29:20.7), sophomore Daniel Henkes was 11th (29:29.8), freshman Elliot Blake was 12th and senior Chris Soto placed 13th (29:39.1). The Tigers' nine all-SCAC selections also established a new conference championship meet record for honorees at a single championship. The old mark had been eight, which Trinity posted in 2012.
Colorado College came in second place with 50 points. The CC Tigers picked up all-SCAC performances from junior Conor Terhune (28:43.8 - seventh place), senior Jacob Rothman (28:48.8 - eighth place), freshman David Eik (29:26.6 - 10th place) and senior Tucker Hampson (29:53.6 - 14th place).
Texas Lutheran University posted a program-best third place finish with 85 points and the University of Dallas was fourth with 105 points. The Crusaders' senior Ryan McAnany duplicated his sixth-place individual performance from a year ago (28:30.1) and was the only non-Trinity or Colorado College runner to earn all-SCAC honors.
Rounding out the standings, Southwestern University was fifth with 137 points, Schreiner University was sixth with 179 points and Austin College finished seventh with 205 points.
2015 Men's Cross Country All-Conference Team
1. Taylor Piske, Trinity University - 27:37.8
2. Michael Erickson, Trinity University - 27:52.5
3. Oliver Langselius, Trinity University - 28:04.6
4. Austin Brown, Trinity University - 28:09.0
5. Jacob Hammond, Trinity University - 28:19.0
6. Ryan McAnany, University of Dallas - 28:30.1
7. Conor Terhune, Colorado College - 28:43.8
8. Jacob Rothman, Colorado College - 28:48.8
9. Brian Wongchotigul, Trinity University - 29:20.7
10. David Eik, Colorado College - 29:26.6
11. Daniel Henkes, Trinity University - 29:29.8
12. Elliot Blake, Trinity University - 29:31.9
13. Chris Soto, Trinity University - 29:39.1
14. Tucker Hampson, Colorado College - 29:53.6
After the race, SCAC Multimedia and Sports Information Assistant Blake Childers caught up with Trinity's Piske and Langselius as well as Tigers' head coach Emily Daum.
To watch that interview, click here.
