Virginia Beach, Virginia – The Berea College men's cross country team finished out the 2016-17 season competing in the 2016 USCAA National Championships. The Championships were kicked off with the USCAA Fall Sports Banquet. Brandon Yearout, Corbin Flege, Luis Gonzalaz Anguiar and Nathan Smith were all named to the USCAA Men's Cross Country National All-Academic Team.
The race was held in Virginia Beach on Friday, November 11th. Berea came into this meet with as the defending USCAA National Champions. This year the Mountaineers would take home the Runner-Up trophy scoring 60 points and just falling short of team champion SUNY Delhi who posted 46. Cleary was third overall with 103 points. The Mountaineers posted a team 8K average of 26:29:33. Berea's Isaiah Dodson ran away from the field and was the individual USCAA National Champion.
The men's team had 9 runners competing. The mountaineers were led by sophomore Isaiah Dodson, who won the race with a time of 25:15, and received All-American honors. Senior Jeremy Johnson and freshman Dakota White also earned All-American honors. Jeremy Johnson finished 3rd place overall, running a time of 25:52. Dakota White followed, finishing in 6th place and running a time of 26:14. Junior Dylan Watkins finished next for the Mountaineers, placing 24th with a time of 27:32. Senior Casey Monti followed close behind, placing 26th and running a time of 27:36.
Other finishers for the team include freshman Landon Bond 27th (27:37), Kyle Young 34th (27:59), Corbin Flege 42nd (28:28), and Nathan Smith 62nd (29:18).
"Coming in as the defending National Champions we knew we had a target on our back," said assistant coach Shawn Jakubowski. "SUNY Delhi got out great and it was a close race down to the fifth runner. I am very proud of this team and all they have accomplished this season. As we have to say goodbye to three outstanding senior student-athletes, the entire coaching staff would like to thank them for all their hard work."
This race concludes the Mountaineers 2016-17 cross country season. As we finish this season we say goodbye to three talented seniors: Jeremy Johnson, Casey Monti, and Nathan Smith.