GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. --- A Top 10 finish from senior Michael Reif enabled the NAIA No. 19-ranked University of St. Francis men's cross country team to earn a No. 9 placement at the Aquinas College (Mich.) NAIA Great Lakes Challenge on Saturday morning.  The meet featured 15 teams either ranked or receiving votes in the latest NAIA Coaches' Poll.

NAIA No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan University claimed bragging rights with its 140-point total.  The Wildcats were followed by No. 14 University of Rio Grande (Ohio) (171), No. 6 Spring Arbor University (Mich.) (178) and No. 8 Taylor University (Ind.) (181).  USF totaled 243 points, which actually tied it for eighth place with Indiana University East, but the latter gained the upper-hand on a tie-breaker.

Reif finished seventh overall in a field of 202 runners representing 22 schools.  He completed the 8K course in 24:28, or just under 16 seconds off the top time.  That went to Indiana Wesleyan's Eli Fullerton at 24:12.60.

Mikey Corcoran also placed among the top 30 runners for the Saints at No. 27 with his time of 24:57.20.  The rest of USF's scoring came from Scott Crabb (61st, 25:24.9), Noah Friske (79th, 25:34.4) and Jack Wright (82nd, 25:35.8).

Up Next
The Saints will be seeking their sixth straight league title when they head to Bettendorf, Iowa to compete in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships on Nov. 9 at Crow Creek Park.

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