http://miac-online.org/news/2011/10/28/MXC_1028114244.aspx

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The 2011 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Men's Cross Country Championship had several lasting images on a gorgeous fall day at Como Park Golf Course in St. Paul. Hamline edged St. Olaf in a tight team race to win its third-straight team championship, and St. Thomas senior Ben Sathre ran away from the field in an impressive display to win the individual title.

After Sathre crossed all alone, the next three across the line were all Pipers to give Hamline places 2-3-4 in its quest to three-peat as Devin Monson, Jack Reichert and Ellis Richardson finished in succession in a matter of three seconds. Colin Rogers added a 16th place finish and Brendan Ruter was 20th to round Hamline's team score of 45th, and edge the second-place Oles (54) by nine points. The Pipers and St. Olaf were the class of the field, at least 57 poinnts ahead of the rest of the teams.

Saint John's came in third with a score of 111. Bethel was seven points behind the Johnnies at 118 to take fourth and St. Thomas rounded out the top five with a total of 150. Carleton was sixth at 163, Saint Mary's had 185 to finish seventh and Gustavus came in eighth with a total of 211. Macalester (220), Concordia (227) and Augsburg (260) rounded out the final three spots in the team standings.

Sathre led the race from nearly start to finish, gradually increasing his lead over the Piper trio en route to his first-place finish. Sathre's time was 24:54, which was 32 seconds ahead of the runner-up. Monson came in second after winning last year's individual title with a time of 25:26, and Deichert was third at 25:27 and Richardson finished fourth at 25:28. Concordia senior Tom Sederquist also had a great performance, finishing in 25:30 to finish fifth.

Bethel and St. Olaf occupied the rest of the Top 10, starting with Ole freshman Grant Wintheiser (25:36) in sixth place. Bethel's Zach Haskins was seventh (25:45) and another Ole, Brian Saska (25:48) came in eighth. Haskins' teammate Matt Schafer (25:53) was ninth and one more St. Olaf runner, Tim Lillehaugen (25:54) finished 10th.

St. Olaf's Patrick Boland (11th, 26:00), Carleton's Marcus Huderle (12th, 26:03), Macalester's Joe Giamberdino (13th, 26:04), Augsburg's Michaele Tesema (14th, 26:05) and Bethel's Matt Berens (15th, 26:06) were all separated by just six seconds to round out the Top 15, which all earned automatic All-MIAC honors by virtue of their finish at the championships. The next 10 finishers, places 16-25, all received All-MIAC Honorable Mention accolades.

2011 MIAC Men's Cross Country Championship Results

The 2011 MIAC Cross Country Championships were hosted by Saint Mary's University.

CLICK HERE to visit the 2011 MIAC Cross Country Web site, featuring previews, results, recaps and photos.

Courtesy of MIAC