DALLAS, Ga. — Behind three top-20 finishes, Allen Community College’s cross country team finished fourth overall at the 2013 NJCAA Half Marathon National Championship Saturday.
Sophomore Ryan Pulsifer led the way for the Red Devils, with his ninth-place time of 1 hour, 10 minutes, 48.36 seconds.
His school record mark was about four minutes behind individual champion Tahir Chakisso of Iowa Central. Iowa Central also captured the team title with the top two individual runners, placing three in the top seven.
Sophomore Kyle Schauvliege wrapped up his cross country career with a 14th-place finish, with a time of 1:12.24.55. Freshman Salvador Medrano was 19th at 1:13.28.77.
Sophomore Patrick Rachford finished in 1:17.29.09, good for 38th. Diego Sanchez was 51st in 1:19.52.10.
The Red Devils finished fourth with 39 points. Iowa Central won with 10 points, followed by Gillettem Wyo., 27, and El Paso, 34.
“I was happy with how we ran and competed as a team,” Red Devil cross country coach Vince DeGrado said. “The only disappointing part was after such a long drive, it would have been nice to come home with a trophy.”
The top two teams earn trophies in the half marathon.
Allen raced without one of its top competitors, sophomore Brock Artis, who was sidelined with a knee injury.
“It was just a fluke thing,” DeGrado said. “He hit his knee on something, and with half marathons, you don’t want to aggravate a small injury, because you’re running 13 miles as hard as you can.”
The Allen runners will get a bit of a rest — about two weeks — before practice cranks up for the oncoming indoor track and field season.
“A lot of them have already started practicing, but I’m giving them a couple of weeks,” DeGrado said. “It’s a chance for them to get a break from me.”
Red Devils take fourth at NJCAA half marathon
