Top-Three Efforts from Kipsang, DeLong Propel Men's Cross Country Team to Fifth Place at Rose-Hulman Pre-Nationals

(TERRE HAUTE, Ind., Oct. 6)—The junior tandem of Elkana Kipsang (Eldoret, Kenya/Legebet) and Blake DeLong(Hillsboro, IL/Hillsboro) each turned in strong performances Saturday for the McKendree University men's cross country team at the Rose-Hulman Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind.
 
Kipsang earned a second-place finish over the eight-kilometer course, while DeLong was right behind in third place. Buoyed by the efforts of Kipsang and DeLong, McKendree placed fifth overall out of 30 teams in the meet. The Bearcats placed behind only Claremont-Mudds-Scripps College, Augustana University, Wabash College and Johns Hopkins University in a meet that drew a national field.
 
In a field of 376 runners, Kipsang crossed the finish line in a final time of 25:30.1. He was 17 seconds behind the individual champion, Noah Droddy of DePauw University. DeLong was just four seconds behind Kipsang at 25:34.1.
 
Sophomore Ryan Todd (Jerseyville, IL/Jersey Community) also had a top-50 effort for the Bearcats as he took 37^th overall with a time of 26:19.5.
 
The meet marked the final regular-season event for McKendree. The Bearcats will close out their 2012 season on Oct. 20 at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship in Springfield, Mo.

(Courtesy of McKendree Sports Information)