Cruz leads Tiger runners at the Greeno/Dirksen Invitational

Competing for the first time in two weeks and only the second time this season, the No. 6-ranked Cowley College men's cross-country team was among 26 schools running on Saturday at the 34^th annual Greeno/Dirksen Invitational held at the Mahoney Golf Course in Lincoln, NE.

There were six NCAA Division I schools and more than 350 individuals at the meet, which was run In humid conditions. Iowa Western Community College placed first on the men's side ahead of runner-up University of Nebraska and third place Air Force Academy. The Reivers had the top three runners in the 8,000-meter race and were led by Geoffrey Ronoh's first-place time of 23:41.94.

Cowley was led by sophomore Miquel Cruz's 40th-place finish. Cruz finished with a time of 26:05.42 in the 8,000-meter race. Fellow sophomores Manuel Leos and Deshawn Douglas also raced, as did freshmen Esteban Boisseau, Elijah Roberts, and Conner Walker.

"For some of the guys, this was their first introduction to an 8K," Cowley head coach Cameron Rieth said. "Miquel and Esteban are in good spots right now, while some of the others probably got out faster than they could handle and were not able to hold on."

Cowley will take part in another large meet when they race at the Chile Pepper Festival hosted by the University of Arkansas on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

"We have some guys that are learning to navigate running this distance," Rieth said. "We have got to get better and will have another crack at it this weekend at what will be another tough meet."

Cowley results:

MEN

Miquel Cruz, 26:05.42, 40^th; Esteban Boisseau, 27:38.90, 124^th; Manuel Leos, 29:17.60, 215^th; Deshawn Douglas, 30:00.52, 235^th; Elijah Roberts, 30:01.75; Conner Walker, 30:32.06, 249^th.