Denslow Leads the Way for Spartans at Nationals
November 19, 2021
VANCOUVER, Wash. - The Missouri Baptist University men's cross country program wrapped up one of its most successful seasons in recent memory at the 2021 NAIA Cross Country National Championships as seven Spartan men had the opportunity to race at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Championship Course on Friday.
It marked the first team appearance for the MBU men at the NAIA National Championships since 2006. The Spartans placed 32nd out of 36 teams but at times were in the mix for a Top 25 finish.
In his first appearance at NAIA Nationals, sophomore Donovan Denslow was the highest finisher for the Spartan men in 136th place out of 330 participants. The 2020 NJCAA Division III cross country national champion at Mineral Area College got off to a fast start in which he was on pace for an All-American finish (Top 40) at the 3K checkpoint and Top-50 finish at the halfway mark but dropped back out of the Top 100 in the back half of the race. He registered a time of 27:02.80.
Rounding out MBU's top-five scoring runners were junior Wyatt Elliott in 202nd (27:36.10), senior Jack Warmann in 226th (27:50.90), Trey Peugeot in 249th (28:07.40) and Elijah Bullock in 289th (28:36.00).
Alex Ahrens and Jordan Crawford clocked in at 29:46.90 and 30:25.00, respectively.
It marked the first team appearance for the MBU men at the NAIA National Championships since 2006. The Spartans placed 32nd out of 36 teams but at times were in the mix for a Top 25 finish.
In his first appearance at NAIA Nationals, sophomore Donovan Denslow was the highest finisher for the Spartan men in 136th place out of 330 participants. The 2020 NJCAA Division III cross country national champion at Mineral Area College got off to a fast start in which he was on pace for an All-American finish (Top 40) at the 3K checkpoint and Top-50 finish at the halfway mark but dropped back out of the Top 100 in the back half of the race. He registered a time of 27:02.80.
Rounding out MBU's top-five scoring runners were junior Wyatt Elliott in 202nd (27:36.10), senior Jack Warmann in 226th (27:50.90), Trey Peugeot in 249th (28:07.40) and Elijah Bullock in 289th (28:36.00).
Alex Ahrens and Jordan Crawford clocked in at 29:46.90 and 30:25.00, respectively.