GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. --- The University of St. Francis men's cross country team made its biggest statement of the 2021 campaign on Saturday morning when the NAIA No.3 ranked Saints upended No.1 Indiana Wesleyan University and No.2 University of Saint Mary to claim the Aquinas College (Mich.) NAIA Great Lakes Challenge.

Head coach Jeff Barker's team finished with 92 points after its top five runners all placed among the top 28 runners in the 239-person field. St. Mary was nine points back at 101 despite boasting the No.3 and 4 runners in the meet with Indiana Wesleyan placing third with its 113 points.

Omar Paramo was the first Saint to finish, placing sixth with his time of 24:38.6. He was followed by Oscar Tejeda at No.13 (24:47.5). 

The Saints also had the No. 22 and 23 runners in Carlos Martinez (24:56.5) and Caleb Bolus (24:59.7), respectively, with Jordan Freese closing out USF's scoring with his time of 25:09.6 and No.28 placement.

Huntington University's Haile Stutzman was the top individual performer on the 8K course with his time of 24:16.2.

The first-place finish was the second meet title on the season for the Saints and puts them in good position to possibly earn the top NAIA ranking when the next Coaches' Poll comes out on Thursday (Oct. 28).

A total of 28 teams made up the field with 12 of the squads ranking among the NAIA's Top 25.

Up Next
The Saints will look to defend their Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference title when they compete in the league championships on Nov. 6 at Aspen Ridge Golf Course in Bourbonnais, Ill. Race time is scheduled for 11 am.

You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on Twitter @USFSaints.