Nov. 3, 2001

Bulldog Men's Cross Country Team Earns Berth In National Meet

The Truman State University men's cross country team earned a berth in the NCAA Division II Championships with a second-place finish on Saturday (Nov. 3) at the NCAA Division II South Central Regional in Joplin, Mo.

The Bulldogs finished with 45 points, 14 behind regional champion Abilene Christian (Texas). Missouri Southern was third with 78 points, and Central Missouri placed third with 87. All four teams move on to the NCAA Division II Championships to be held on Nov. 17 in Slippery Rock, Pa.

The Bulldogs placed four runners in the top eight at the regional, led by senior Andy Doering (Florissant, Mo./McCluer North), who placed second overall with a time of 31:03.3. It's the fourth time in Doering's stellar Truman career that he has placed in the top 10 at the regional meet. Fellow senior Ben Rosario (St. Louis/SLUH) finished third in 31:12.8, while sophomore Alan Heincker (Dittmer, Mo./Grandview) captured the eighth spot in 31:34.6. It was the third straight top 10 finish at regionals for Rosario.

Senior Brian McQueary (St. Louis/St. Mary's) was 11th in 32:02.6 and junior Pat Boyle (St. Charles, Mo.) brought home 21st in 32:43.5. Junior Mike Nelson (Fenton, Mo./Northwest) and senior Mark DeBold (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way) were 25th and 29th, respectively, with times of 33:02.3 and 33:17.6 to round out the Truman competitors.

The top 15 runners were named all-region, meaning Doering, Rosario, Heincker and McQueary took in the honor for the Bulldog men.

It will mark the second straight trip to the national meet for the Bulldog men, who last year placed 10th at the Division II Championships.

The second-place showing is Truman's best since 1996, when the team also took second at the regional meet. Truman has placed second or better at the regional meet seven times in Hall of Fame coach Ed Schneider's 27-year cross country coaching career.

Men's Cross Country Releases | Men's Cross Country | Truman Athletics