NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind.-- The Rose-Hulman men's cross country team earned a first-place finish at the HCAC Men's Cross Country Championships on Saturday with a team score of 31. This is the third year in a row the Fightin' Engineers have claimed the HCAC Title and their ninth time winning the championship in the last 14 years. 

Head Coach Derick Lawrence was named the HCAC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year for his efforts this season. Freshman Kole Steele was named the HCAC Men's Cross Country Newcomer of the Year for his stellar performance. 

Rose-Hulman ran as a pack, placing six runners in the top 10 and 12 runners in the top 20. The top finisher for the Fightin' Engineers was Wyatt Starkie, placing fourth overall with a time of 25:44.70. Closely behind him was Brayden Gebhard in fifth place (25:46.20), Steele in sixth place (25:50.80), and Chase Delaney in seventh place (25:53.40).

Other top-10 finishers included Ben Tuckis, who placed ninth with a time of 26:01.60, and Chris Lynn, who finished 10th with a time of 26:04.10. 

The Fightin' Engineers had eight runners earn First Team All-HCAC for finishing in the top 14, and five runners earn Honorable Mention All-HCAC for finishing in the top 21. 

The Fightin' Engineers men's cross country team will return to action at the Great Lakes Regional Championships on Saturday, November 14, at 11 AM. 

TOP FINISHERS:
4) Wyatt Starkie - 25:44.70 (First Team All-HCAC)
5) Brayden Gebhard - 25:46.20 (First Team All-HCAC)
6) Kole Steele - 25:50.80 (First Team All-HCAC)
7) Chase Delaney - 25:53.40 (First Team All-HCAC)
9) Ben Tuckis - 26:01.60 (First Team All-HCAC)
10) Chris Lynn - 26:04.10 (First Team All-HCAC)
11) Grayson Rorick - 26:08.00 (First Team All-HCAC)
13) Morgan Stratton - 26:16.20 (First Team All-HCAC)
16) John Gries - 26:21.60 (Honorable Mention All-HCAC)
18) Kade Schweikhardt - 26:24.00 (Honorable Mention All-HCAC)
19) Cole Stevens - 26:25.00 (Honorable Mention All-HCAC)
20) Cooper Moore - 26:25.80 (Honorable Mention All-HCAC)
21) Chase Collins - 26:36.40 (Honorable Mention All-HCAC)

TEAM SCORES:
1) Rose-Hulman - 31
2) Manchester - 47
3) Hanover - 97
4) Franklin - 98
5) Anderson - 161
6) Mount St. Joseph - 169
7) Berea - 173
8) Bluffton - 188
9) Earlham - 287