Men's Cross Country Earns A Top-25 Finish At The Division II National Championships

OVERVIEW – DIVISION II NCAA CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

LOCATION: CHAMBER'S BAY PARK – SEATTLE, WA.

RECAP: Northwood men's cross-country team raced for the first time in program history (as a team) at the 2022 NCAA Cross Country Champions Friday morning (December 2). This caps off what was a historic season for the Timberwolves, earning a 25th-place finish at the Championships.

NORTHWOOD RESULTS:

• Dillan Haviland – 113th: 31:27.4 – PR – Third in NU History
• Zane Aldrich – 117th: 31:29.0 
• Preston Earl – 127th: 31:37.6 – PR – Fourth in NU History
• Carson Laney – 136th: 31:42.4 – PR – Sixth in NU History
• Sam Smith – 198th: 32:31.5 0 – PR – 12th in NU History
• Brandon Boyd – 231st: 33:14.5
• Josh Jones – 238th: 33:36.2

INSIDE THE RACE (10,000 METERS)

• No. 27 Northwood placed two spots higher than the national ranking (25th) with 583 points.
• 34 teams and 257 athletes competed at the championships. Northwood placed sixth amongst Midwest regional opponents and second among G-MAC schools.
• Colorado School of Mines (43 points) would prevail as National Champions, followed by Wingate (177 points) and Colorado Christian (191 points) to round out the top three.
• Haviland (113th) and the Timberwolves had four runners set personal records (PR), including Earl, Laney, and Smith. 
• Laney jumped five spots from 11th in NU 10K history to sixth behind a 42-second improvement on his personal record. 
• Smith was Northwood's biggest improver. The Petoskey, Mich. native jumped into the NU top 25 (12th) by improving his personal best by 1:04.
• The Timberwolves' average 10K finish was 31:45.6 and had a team total time of 2:38:47.9.