Final Team Standings • Final Individual Standings

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Shippensburg University men's cross country team finished 17th at the NCAA National Championships on Saturday afternoon from Plante's Ferry Athletic Complex in Spokane, Washington. It is an improvement of seven spots from the No. 24 national ranking that the team was assigned by the USTFCCCA entering the race.

Senior Stephen Schelander was the Raider pacesetter for the second time in three years at the national championships by finishing in 41st place, just one spot short of earning All-America status. It is an improvement of nine places from last year's race for Schelander, who wrapped up his Raider career

"We're a little disappointed for Schelander, ending up the first one out of All-America range, but he gave it everything he had and he put himself in position to be an All-American," head coach Steve Spence said of his top runner. "He just wasn't quite able to pull it off in the end."

Junior Matt Gillette improved three places from his finish at last year's national championships by taking 51st place in 32:24. Gillette has been among the Top 85 finishers all three times that he has run the NCAA meet in his career.

"Gillette had the same approach and really put it out there, giving himself a shot," Spence said. "He was in the mid-30s through about four miles before having to slide back to where he finished."

Senior Eric Evans wrapped up a memorable season and collegiate cross country career with the Raiders by placing 105th in 33:36. Evans earned his first career All-PSAC and All-Atlantic Region honors as a senior this season with a 20th-place turn at the conference meet and his 13th-place finish at the Atlantic Regional meet two weeks ago.

Senior Wade Miller and redshirt freshman Scott Armstrong rounded out the SU Top 5 – with Miller placing 122nd in 33:51 and Armstrong earning 155th place in 34:47. Miller was just seven seconds off his 10K pace from Slippery Rock two weeks ago.

Freshmen Bernard England and Peter Gelston rounded out SU's contingent Saturday as the No. 6 and No. 7 runners – posting respective times of 36:02 and 36:12.

"I'm definitely proud of the effort that they put in," Spence said. "Especially with the young group of guys that we had, they really did gut it out and had an outstanding season just to get here to the NCAA meet."

Shippensburg (17th, 413 points)
41. Stephen Schelander (32:05.7)
51. Matt Gillette (32:24.0)
105. Eric Evans (33:36.1)
122. Wade Miller (33:51.9)
155. Scott Armstrong (34:47.1)
179. Bernard England (36:02.6)
181. Peter Gelston (36:12.2)