Mustang men win second conference title

CLINTON, Iowa -- It was truly a team effort that propelled the Mount Mercy men's cross country team to its second Midwest Collegiate Conference title and first-ever berth in the NAIA national meet at the 2010 MCC Championships on Saturday at the Clinton Country Club.

The Mustangs placed three runners in the top 10, led by Mike Miroux. The junior from Spring Valley, Ill., was named all-conference for the third straight year after a fourth-place finish in 27:12. Freshmen Mitch Johnson and Gary Bannister were eighth and ninth in 27:59 and 28:04. Senior Matt Clarke finished 14th in 28:25, freshman TJ Mosbach 20th in 28:57.

Mount Mercy edged Grand View by three points for the team championship, their first since 2003. The Mustangs finished with 55 points, Grand View with 58. St. Ambrose was third (79 points), William Penn fourth (80), Viterbo (Wis.) fifth (107), Ashford sixth (107), and Clarke seventh (214). Kevin Randle of St. Ambrose (26:45) was the Men's Harrier of the Year, edging teammate John Darmody (26:56) by 11 seconds in the men's 8K.

Mount Mercy's Ryan Scheckel was named the MCC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year for the second time (2003). It's his seventh cross country coach of the year award, having also won the women's award in 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.

The 2010 NAIA Cross Country National Championships are Saturday, Nov. 20, at 12:30 p.m. (CT) at Fort Vancouver in Vancouver, Wash.