Richmond Men Excel at 2016 U.S. Cross Country Championships

Eugene, Or. - The Richmond men's cross country team ran brilliantly this past weekend with Matt McKenna leading the way with his 15th place finish at the USATF Cross Country National Championships in Bend, Oregon. 

Matt McKenna, who led the Spider team this past fall earning Atlantic 10 All-Conference honors and placing third in the Collegiate Half Marathon National Championships in November, continued his campaign by finishing in the top spot for the Spiders with his 15th place performance. McKenna finished with a time of 33:56 for the hilly 10K championships course sitting at 4,000 feet elevation in Bend, Oregon.

Sophomore Johnny Hogue finished in 23rd place with a time of 34:46.

"Johnny was in about 40th after the first of five 2K loops and he just kept moving faster as he went," said head coach Steve Taylor. "His slowest lap was his first lap. To place 25th in this national championships as a sophomore is a tremendous accomplishment.”

Senior Tim Gruber finished in 33rd place as he returned after suffering a foot injury that saw him miss most of the 2015 season. Andrew Brennan crossed the line in 43rd place.

"The men raced really well today. To have two men in the top 25 in the USA Cross Country Championships is quite an accomplishment by Matt McKenna and Johnny Hogue," statedSteve Taylor. "I think coaches have made cross country too soft and easy at the NCAA D1 level. Too often the courses are track races on grass and I understand why to a degree, however this was a race that required a race place and execution of that plan in order to have success. The combination of hills and elevation are an equalizer in many ways and both Matt and Johnny capitalized on both throughout the race. This is true cross country. It’s not about time, it’s about place and I’m excited with their efforts."

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