Men's CC Finishes 20th In Louisville Race

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's cross country team took part in the prestigious Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic held Saturday (Oct. 2) in Louisville, Ky.

The event was hosted by the Louisville Sports Commission with nearly 100 teams from all levels of collegiate competition involved in the field.  Races were contested in six different divisions with three each for men and women at Tom Sawyer State Park.

Tom Sawyer State Park will also serve later this year as the site of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championships (Nov. 20) and the 2010 NCAA-II National Championships (Dec. 4).

The Bulldog men's squad competed in the "Blue" second division race and came in 20th overall of 34 teams in the field with 485 team points. A total of 328 individual runners competed in the division, which was won by Marshall (131) points.  Bentley (Mass.) placed second (135) followed by Grand Valley State (175). 

Sophomore Ryan Chute (Waterford/Mott) led FSU as he placed 33rd (25:55.00) in the 8K field.

Freshman David Silversmith (Mt. Pleasant/Shepherd) was 94th (26:32.50) followed by sophomore Andrew Campbell (Brownstown/Woodhaven) in 134th place (26:52.50) and freshman Bill King (Oak Park/Royal Oak) in 135th place (26:55.20).  Sophomore Alex Bladecki (Bay City/Western) finished 139th (26:57.50) with sophomore Josh Kyser (Shepherd) coming in 161st (27:08.10) and sophomore Michael Schulte (Weidman/Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart) netting a 176th-place (27:19.50) performance.

Senior Derek Childs (Wheeler/Breckenridge) placed 247th (28:15.90) and freshman Connor LaRowe (Howell) took 249th (28:17.70).

Louisville's Tom Sawyer State Park has been the site of five NAIA National Cross Country Championships, the 2007 BIG EAST

Conference Championships along with the 2006, 2007 and 2009 NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Championships.