Rio's Jenkins sets record in win at Appalachian Challenge

Rio Grande Sports Information
     KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tyler Jenkins established a new personal- and school record and the University of Rio Grande had a strong showing as a team in the men's division of Friday's NAIA Appalachian Cross Country Challenge at Sequoyah Park.
     Jenkins, a senior from Barnesville, Ohio, traversed the 8k course in a time of 24:16, just over six seconds faster than runner-up Ryan Ehrler from the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.).
     Jenkins' showing - along with a sixth-place finish by sophomore Ryder Crawford (Batavia, OH) - helped the RedStorm place third as a team with 96 points.
     Crawford finished in 24:37 and now ranks as the school's No. 2 all-time fastest finish, shaving 25 seconds off of his previous personal record.
     Cumberlands, which had three of the top five times, captured the team title among the 20 participating teams with 33 points. Milligan (Tenn.) University was second with 81 points.
     "The guys almost knocked off the No. 6-ranked team and they broke the team average record again," said Rio Grande head coach Matt Paxton.
     Rio's remaining scoring performances came from senior Mugisha Pomossene (Dayton, OH), who was 25th in the field of 200 runners after crossing in 25:05; junior Kasy Science (Marietta, OH), who was 35th with a time of 25:23; and senior Carter Lipscomb (West Union, WV), who placed 36th with a mark of 25:24.
     Also competing for the RedStorm were freshman Moritz Siegel (Leipzig, Germany), who was 39th with a time of 25:25; sophomore John Young (Leroy, OH), who was 46th with a finish of 25:36; sophomore Anton Meinlschmidt (Weibeyoke, Germany), who took 47th place in 25:40; freshman AbDoul Bah (Columbus, OH), who crossed in 25:46 for 51st place; junior Ashton Beverly (Chillicothe OH), who was 65th with a time of 26:15; freshman Micah Balsmeyer (Walbridge, OH), who took 67th place in 26:16; sophomore David van Kuik (Utrecht, The Netherlands), who finished 73rd in a time of 26:22; freshman Nathan Ward (Galena, OH), who was 91st with a time of 26:43; sophomore Jacob Faught (Georgetown, OH), who grabbed 93rd place after crossing in a time of 26:49; freshman Josh Alexander (Fredericktown, OH), who was 109th with a time of 27:11; freshman Brody King (Sunbury, OH), who finished 114th after crossing of 27:14; freshman Jaxson Immell (Chillicothe, OH), who placed 114th with a mark of 27:17; freshman A'Ziah Jenkins (Pickerington, OH), who crossed in 27:25 for 126th place, junior JJ Larue (Chillicothe, OH), who was 127th with a time of 27:25; freshman Victor Koech (Kenya), who finished in 143rd place at 27:49; freshman Gage Renison (Chillicothe, OH), who was 145th after posting a mark of 27:54; sophomore Caleb Hines (Chillicothe, OH), who took 151th place with a time of 28:11; Joey Morris, who was 165th with a time of 28:47; junior Jayden Dunlap (Gallipolis, OH), whose time of 29:03 was good enough for a 167th place finish; Tyler Hill, who placed 168th in 29:08; freshman Angel Montes (Mexico), who was 184th with a time of 30:11; and sophomore Wyatt Webb (Gallipolis, OH), who was 188th after crossing in 30:32.
     Rio Grande returns to action on Nov. 8 when it hosts the River States Conference Championship.