Cross Country | 11/19/2011 2:14:00 PM

[Team score] [Men's individual finishes]

SPOKANE - The Western Oregon men's cross country team made their second straight trip to the NCAA National Championships a memorable one by placing 14th on Saturday, Nov. 19.

The Wolves improved upon their 20th place finish at the 2010 championships by collecting 374 team points. Connor Kasler led the way by grabbing 41 team points and placing 49th overall with a time of 32:20.2 on the 10k Plante's Ferry Athletic Complex course.

"Everyone is pleased with the finish, but no one is satisfied," Western Oregon head coach Mike Johnson explained. "While we are pleased with what we have accomplished there is still much work to be done."

Dan Sprinkle was the second finisher for the Wolves as he placed 54th with a time of 32:29.0 to collect 46 team points for the Wolves. This made Western Oregon's two repeat GNAC All-Academic performers the top two finishers for the team in each of the three races during the championship season (GNACs, Regionals and NCAAs).

Senior Kyle Larson capped off his Western Oregon cross country career by earning 79 points for Western Oregon. He placed 92nd in the meet with a time of 33:22.1.

Lukas Fenley and Ryan Chapman rounded out the scoring for the Wolves. Fenley was the 106th finisher at the meet with a time of 33:37.3 (92 team points). Chapman placed 131st with a time of 34:02.1.

Western Oregon received alternate scoring times from Drew Larson (126; 34:22.7) and Brady Beagley (137; 34:45.5).

"I am very proud of each of these guys," Johnnson said. "They all have many more miles ahead of them, and many have just started their championship careers.

"We plan on the same thing with track & field as these being the model programs of at Western Oregon by having good athletes, good students with championships results," Johnson concluded.