LAWRENCE, Kan. – The No. 16-ranked Washburn men's cross country team delivered a strong showing against a nationally competitive and regional field Sunday morning, placing third at the NCAA Division II Pre-National Meet at Rim Rock Farm with 98 points.

The Ichabods finished behind only #19 Pittsburg State (51 points) and #7 Western Colorado (93 points) and ahead of nationally ranked Nebraska-Kearney (#18), Cal Poly Pomona (#14), Missouri S&T (#30), and Missouri Southern (#27) in a 15-team field loaded with regional and national contenders.

Washburn's success was fueled by an impressive pack effort, placing all five scoring runners among the top 29 finishers and posting just a 39-second spread between its first and fifth scorer.

Junior Esteban Boisseau led the Ichabods with an 11th-place finish, covering the 8K course in 24:30.7. He was followed closely by junior Sebastiaan Horselenberg, who placed 14th overall in 24:46.1, while junior Lukas Mehl gave Washburn three runners inside the top 20 with an 18th-place finish in 24:52.7.

Freshman Madden Rutherford continued his strong season by placing 26th overall with a time of 25:01.7, and fellow freshman Hunter DeLeeuw completed the scoring five in 29th place at 25:05.0.

Sophomore Adrian Lehman finished just outside the scoring group in 35th place with a time of 25:09.7, while freshman Brody Anderson crossed the line 50th in 25:23.7.

Junior Trent Zimbelman added a time of 25:38.5, finishing 64th overall. Senior Alex Adams was next across for Washburn in 25:45.5, followed by freshman Aidan Braun in 26:15.3 and junior Ludovico Vaccari in 26:27.6.

Freshman Rhys Johnson recorded a time of 26:33.7, while freshman Taylor Karcz finished in 26:39.3. Freshman Gunner Wagner crossed in 27:06.5, and freshman Layne Whisler completed the race in 30:12.6.

Washburn's five scoring runners averaged 24:52 over the Rim Rock Farm layout and combined for 98 points, edging fourth-place Nebraska-Kearney by 25 points. Missouri Southern in the final standings.

The Ichabods will be back in action in two weeks at the Missouri Western Invitational on Oct. 24 in St. Joseph, Mo.
Washburn Top Finishers

• 11th – Esteban Boisseau (Jr.) – 24:30.7
• 14th – Sebastiaan Horselenberg (Jr.) – 24:46.1
• 18th – Lukas Mehl (Jr.) – 24:52.7
• 26th – Madden Rutherford (Fr.) – 25:01.7
• 29th – Hunter DeLeeuw (Fr.) – 25:05.0
• 35th – Adrian Lehman (So.) – 25:09.7
• 50th – Brody Anderson (Fr.) – 25:23.7
• 64th – Trent Zimbelman (Jr.) – 25:38.5
• 72nd – Alex Adams (Sr.) – 25:45.5
• 98th – Aidan Braun (Fr.) – 26:15.3
• 108th – Ludovico Vaccari (Jr.) – 26:27.6
• 112th – Rhys Johnson (Fr.) – 26:33.7
• 116th – Taylor Karcz (Fr.) – 26:39.3
• 134th – Gunner Wagner (Fr.) – 27:06.5
• 170th – Layne Whisler (Fr.) – 30:12.6

Team Standings

1. #19 Pittsburg State – 51
2. #7 Western Colorado – 93
3. #16 Washburn – 98
4. #18 Nebraska-Kearney – 123
5. #14 Cal Poly Pomona – 140
6. #30 Missouri S&T – 179
7. Embry-Riddle – 202
8. Colorado Mesa – 203
9. #27 Missouri Southern – 220
10. Missouri Western – 244
11. MSU Denver – 246
12. Minnesota State – 261
13. Northwest Missouri – 418
14. Emporia State – 436
15. Rockhurst - 440