Freshman Aidan Gilbride and senior Dage Minors of the Franklin Pierce University cross country team placed 140th and 195th, respectively, out of 242 runners on Saturday morning at the NCAA National Championship, hosted by Saint Leo University. It marked the second time in four years the Ravens had multiple student-athletes compete in the national title race, and the third time in four years they were represented at the meet.
Gilbride, the first-ever Raven freshman to qualify individually for the National Championship, turned in a 10k time of 32:55.4, which was less than four minutes off the lead and good for the 140th position. Minors followed just over a minute later, at 33:56.9, to cap his collegiate cross country career by finishing 195th.
Up front, it was Missouri Southern sophomore Vincent Kiprop who took home the national title, with a time of 29:07.4. He posted nearly a 30-second victory over Shorter sophomore Alfred Chelanga, who turned in a 29:36.3. On the team front, Adams State had three runners finish in the top-10 on its way to the team title.