Full Results

HANOVER, Ind. - Led by senior Bobby Over, who recorded his third straight All-America honor, the Gator men's cross country team finished 18th at the 2013 NCAA Division III National Championship, hosted by Hanover College.

Over became the most decorated runner in program history, closing out his career by taking ninth in an incredibly strong field of 275 runners with a time of 25:01 in the 8K race.  The senior, who has won three straight Mideast Regional championships and back-to-back North Coast Athletic Conference titles, became the first runner in Allegheny history to earn three All-American honors.  He finished in the top 20 of the nation in each of the past three years, taking 17th in 2011 and second last year.  

"It was sad to see Bobby race for the last time in cross country," said Gator head coach Brent Wilkerson.  "What he's done for the program over the course of his career is irreplaceable, but the work ethic that he instilled in our runners will carry on with the team for a long, long time."

Entering the event ranked 24th nationally, the Gators' bested their seeding by six spots.  The team's second through fifth finishers were separated by less than 65 seconds.  Sophomore Logan Steiner was the Gators' second finisher, timed in 25:49, followed by a pair of juniors in James Rynes (26:12) and Alex Simon (26:36).  

Wilkerson was also excited to see seniors Jack Denison and Tom DeAscentis cap off their cross country careers by competing in the national championship.

"It was great to see Denison compete in his third national championship," he said, "and I was really happy for Tom to be able to compete in his first.  This season was the best for both of those runners, and I hope they know the great impact they made on the team.  They'll be forever missed."

In a field of the nation's best runners, just over four minutes separated the 275 participants. Michael LeDuc, competing as an individual qualifier, finished first, timed in 24:29, four seconds ahead of North Central's John Crain.  St. Olaf won the team championship, edging North Central by two points.

Allegheny's performance marked the seventh top-20 finish at the NCAA championship in program history, while Over earned the Gators' 10th All-American honor, given to the top 35 finishers.  Over's ninth-place showing is the third best in program history, and he now owns two of the top three.

"At the beginning of the season," said Wilkerson, "this team had very high aspirations.  While we didn't exactly meet all of our goals, our men worked very hard and dilligently, following through with all of our race plans to end up as a top-20 team in the nation.  I'm continually impressed by the team's work ethic, and it leaves me very excited for the future of Gator cross country."