COLBY — Allen Community College’s men’s cross country team placed second in Region VI and first in the Jayhawk East Conference at the region and conference meet Saturday. ALISN STEVENS, the Red Devils’ “lone wolf,” finished 10th in the region and third in conference with a time of 20:03. She earned both All-Conference and All-Region selections. Last year, she placed 37th overall and 15th in the region.
Pedro Montoya led the Red Devils, placing fourth in the region and first in the conference. He finished the 8k run in 25 minutes, three seconds. Brock Artis finished slightly behind with a time of 25:38 for a sixth place region finish and second in the conference. Trail Spears clocked in at 26:28 for 10th in the region and fourth in the conference.
All five of the Red Devils’ top-five runners finished in the top seven in conference, which earned each runner All-Conference designation. Meshach Adams followed in 16th overall, fifth in the conference with a time of 26:48. Jeremy Brittain finished 19th overall and seventh in the conference with a 26:55 mark.
Allen’s other runners finished outside the All-Conference selection. Daniel Driskel timed in at 27:28 for 23rd overall and ninth in conference, Connor Immenschuh placed 30th overall and 11th in the conference in 27:40, Ben Najman came in 55th overall and 25th in conference with a 28:33 mark and Diego Sanchez finished in 28:40 for 59th overall and 26th in conference.
In addition to being All-Conferences selections, Montoya, Artis and Spears earned All-Region selections. The top 15 overall runners earn this title.
For the region, the men finished just behind Colby for second place overall. Colby finished in two hours, nine minutes and 29 seconds. Allen totaled 2:10:54. The Red Devils’ average time was 26:10.
“We still can beat them, we didn’t run bad,” coach Vince DeGrado said. “They are just a better team.”
DeGrado said that his 2012 women’s team and 2013 men’s team had him on edge emotionally.
“The entire 2014 men’s and women’s teams have been a blessing,” DeGrado said. “If you see these runners around please give them your congratulations, not just for their performances throughout the year but also for being great young men and women. They truly are what coaches strive for in a group of athletes.
“They have been dedicated all year, putting the school and program first and not worrying about the ‘me’ or the artificial stuff we coaches see other programs have to do to attract students.”
The cross country team is now preparing for the NJCAA Championship Nov. 8 in Lubbock, Texas.
ACC men’s cross country places 1st in conference
