Rio Grande News
Rio's Bryce Wilson won the MSC Men's Race in leading Rio Grande to the MSC Championship
Rio's Bryce Wilson won the MSC Men's Race in leading Rio Grande to the MSC Championship
Sun, Nov 8, 2009 - [Men's Cross Country]

November 8, 2009

Redstorm men capture Mid-South XC Title

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The University of Rio Grande men's cross country team knew they had the makings of something special heading into the season. The RedStorm have been under the radar all season on the national level. But after winning the Mid-South Conference Championship and earning a spot at the NAIA National Meet, the RedStorm may now get some overdue accolades. Rio certainly made an impressive debut in the MSC this year by capturing the Mid-South Conference Championship on Saturday morning at E.P. Tom Sawyer Park.

Sophomore Bryce Wilson (Jackson, OH) was the MSC individual champion and thus earned MSC Runner of the Year honors with his individual win. He covered the 8-kilometer course in 25:48.

Rio had four other runners who finished in the top 10 as the RedStorm totaled 25 points. Sophomore Nick Wilson (Fleming, OH) was runner-up with a time of 25:56. Junior Matthew Spencer (Pickerington, OH) ran fourth overall (26:06) while a pair of freshmen stepped up and answered the bell. Joe Taranto (Pickerington, OH) finished 8th (27:37) and Nathan Mogle (New Madison, OH) crossed the line in 10th position (27:53). 

University of the Cumberlands finished second with 52 points and Georgetown College ended in third with 72 points.

Campbellsville University (94 points), Lindsey Wilson College (124) and Pikeville College (181) rounded out the six-team field.

Other RedStorm results: sophomore Zane Miller (Grove City, OH), 14th (28:24) and sophomore Chad McCarty (Tipp City, OH), 17th (28:41).

There were 59 runners in the men's race.

With the win, Rio Grande earns the Mid-South Conference's automatic bid to the 53rd Men's NAIA Cross Country National Championships in Vancouver, Wash.

Bryce Wilson and Nick Wilson earned All Mid-South Conference honors reserved for the top-10 finishers at the MSC Championships. Mogle, Spencer and Taranto joined the Wilson's as all MSC performers. 

After the race, the Mid-South Conference held a banquet to recognize the Academic All-MSC award winners. Rio Grande's Lucas Murphy (Grove City, OH) was a member of the eight-man group.  The distinction is reserved for student-athletes with a sophomore or higher class ranking and a 3.25 and above grade point average.

The NAIA National Championships will be held November 21.