GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.- Taking on some of the best programs in the NAIA, the Battlin' Bears showed up with excellent finishes in Michigan on Saturday morning. 

In the Men's 8K (Maroon Division), Rocky finished three runners inside the top 20 overall. Corbyn Svec led the charge, running a personal-best 24:33.6 and ranking as the fourth-fastest 8K time in program history. Justin Glass followed in 14th with a time of 24:38.2, and John Spinti finished in 18th with a time of 24:45.2. Both times marked personal bests for Glass and Spinti, as Glass's time ranks seventh in program history and Spinti's time ranks 13th. 

Rounding out Rocky's scorers were Zachary Zwiesler in 40th place with a time of 25:07.4 and Matthew Conrad, who followed in 59th place with a time of 25:26.1, both of which were also personal bests. 

Other Battlin' Bear competitors included Caleb Tomac (83rd; 25:43.4), Joseph Orndorff (145th; 26:19.2), and Ashtyn Rask (157th; 26:36.9). 

The Rocky men totaled 142 team points, placing 3rd overall out of 23 teams. Ranked teams the No. 15-ranked Battlin' Bears defeated included No. 8 Marian, No. 22 Spring Arbor, No. 19 Goshen, No. 17 Carroll College, No. 18 Cornerstone, No. 24 St. Francis, and host school No. 16 Aquinas. 

In the Women's 5K (Maroon Division), Jayden Woodland led the way with a 30th-place finish, running a time of 18:38.1. Maya Pearcy followed with a new personal best, placing 37th overall with a time of 18:48.8. Hannah Geisen also tallied a new personal best, placing 56th overall with a time of 18:58.5. 

Rounding out the Battlin' Bear competitors were Kallyn Wilkins (101st; 19:26.0) and Rylie Schoenfeld (137th; 20:00.4). 

Rocky's women totaled 334 team points to place 12th overall out of 22nd teams. Rocky, who did not receive votes in the previous coaches' poll, bested five teams that received votes in last week's poll, including Shawnee State, Governors State, Mount Vernon Nazarene, SCAD Atlanta, and Missouri Baptist. 

Up Next

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Rocky XC now looks ahead to the biggest race of the season, as they host the Frontier Conference XC Championships at Amend Park on Friday, November 7th.