MIAC CROSS COUNTRY PAGE

MINNEAPOLIS -- Coming off one of its best seasons in recent history, the Augsburg College men's cross country team will look to continue its success at the Minnesota intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships again this season. The conference meet will be held this Saturday (10/30) at Como Park Golf Course in St. Paul. Action begins at 2 p.m.

Despite the loss of two of the team's top-three performers to graduation from last year's fourth-place squad, this year's Augsburg team remains in good position to contend for a spot in the top half of the conference standings. The Auggies will enter the conference meet with momentum, as four of the team's top six runners are coming off season best times at the Wisconsin-LaCrosse Jim Drews Invitational on Oct. 16.

Augsburg has been paced this year by a veteran group of runners including Matt Schafer (SO, New Brighton, Minn./Irondale HS), Joe Arnold (JR, Grand Rapids, Minn.) Geoffrey Gillmor (JR, Minneapolis, Minn./South HS) and Daniel Gerber (JR, Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata HS).

Schafer's time of 26:26.5 at the Jim Drews Invitational, is the team's fastest individual time of the season, and a personal best. Arnold, Gilmer, and Gerber have consistently placed in the top five for the Auggies throughout the season.

While the Augsburg veterans will be counted on to anchor the team again this season, a few newcomers could bolster the Auggies' performance at the championships. Micheale Tesema (FY, Burnsville, Minn.) has been one of the Auggies' strongest performers this year, recording a time of 26:46.7 at the Jim Drews Invite. Tesema's time is the team's second-fastest of the season, and the rookie will look to have another strong showing this week.  

First-year runners Dakota Darkstar (FY, Minneapolis/Southwest HS) and Adam Carlsen (FY, Mounds View, Minn./Irondale HS) could also make an impact for Augsburg in their first conference championship meet.