Top-three efforts from Thompson, Facio pace Storm at Grinnell

GRINNELL, Iowa -- Trey Thompson earned runner-up honors, Jonathan Facio came in third and the Simpson men's cross country team placed third of 19 teams at Grinnell's Les Duke Invitational on Saturday.

The Storm finished with 88 points, behind meet champion Central (58) and host Grinnell (69).

The duo of Thompson and Facio ran well in the first 8k of the season. Thompson completed the course in 26:11, 41 seconds behind individual medalist Marcus Graham of Indian Hills CC. Facio came in at 26:22 to place third.

After posting the Storm's No. 4 time in last week's season-opener, Ryan Courtney moved up to the third-spot Saturday, placing 25th in 27:47. Drew Roen came in 27th in 27:53 and Tyler Combs took 31st in 28:00.

Cale Billheimer (34th, 28:05) and Logan Egeland (37th, 28:13) rounded out the Storm's varsity finishers.

Up Next
Simpson is off until the Dan Huston Invitational in Waverly on Saturday, Sept. 29.

Storm Varsity Finishers
2. Trey Thompson, 26:11
3. Jonathan Facio, 26:22
25. Ryan Courtney, 27:47
27. Drew Roen, 27:53
31. Tyler Combs, 28:00
34. Cale Billheimer, 28:05
37. Logan Egeland, 28:13

Team Results (top 10)
1. Central, 58
2. Grinnell, 69
3. Simpson, 88
4. Hawkeye CC, 123
5. Park, 138
6. Indian Hills CC, 175
7. Monmouth, 208
8. Southwestern CC, 213
9. Graceland, 288
10. Iowa Western CC, 327