The Kellogg Community College men’s cross-country team finished seventh in the nation at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III National Championship Saturday.
Men’s team finishers for the 8K race, held at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Alabama, were:
- Freshman Carson Lenzinger (Richland/Gull Lake High School), 28:48.80, 29th place
- Freshman Alex Steward (Hastings/Hastings High School), 29:17.10, 39th place
- Freshman Zachary Piercy (Battle Creek/Lakeview High School), 29:21.30, 40th place
- Freshman Caleb Keaton (Battle Creek/Lakeview High School), 30:38.80, 55th place
- Sophomore Brendan Wedding (Battle Creek/Lakeview High School), 32:00.20, 73rd place
- Freshman Maxwell LaDuke (Battle Creek/Lakeview High School), 33:33.10 (personal best), 94th place
- Freshman Marcus Peevers (Battle Creek/Lakeview High School), 35:54.00, 104th place
Two Bruin women’s cross-country runners qualified to compete in the race individually, including freshman Brenna Withers (Battle Creek/Harper Creek High School), who finished 17th overall in the women’s 5K race with a personal best time of 21:19.90. Sophomore Megan Jackson (Burr Oak/Three Rivers High School) also competed for the Bruins, finishing in 26:49.90 in 77th place.
Head Cross-Country Coach Tom Shaw said the future is bright for the Bruins.
“Success allows the Bruins to continue to attract talented runners to the team in the future,” Shaw said. “Having the top four runners back next year bodes well for the men’s team. The team goal will be to take the next step and break onto the podium with a top-three team finish next year. Offseason effort and improvement will be the key to next year’s success. On the women’s side, the level of talent at the area high schools will give the Bruins the opportunity to make huge strides of improvement as a team. Go Bruins!”
The National Championship success comes on the heels of runner-up finishes from both teams at the NJCAA Region XII championships in October, where Withers’ second-place finish in the women’s race and Piercy’s third-place finish in the men’s race earned them each a spot on their respective NJCAA Division III All-Region 12 team.
For more information about men’s and women’s cross-country at KCC, visit kelloggbruins.com or contact Coach Shaw at crosscountrycoach@kellogg.edu or 269-965-4151 ext. 2133.
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