Moon takes third overall at NCAA Midwest Regional

GENEVA, Ill. - For the second straight season, Spencer Moon qualified for the NCAA Division III Championship, placing third overall in the 8K event in a time of 25:09.1, leading the Simpson men's cross country team to an eighth-place finish.

Moon was the top individual qualifier, as the top two individual finishers qualified automatically via team performance. Moon finished 11th overall last year, joining teammate Harry Dudley to qualify, improving his placing by eight spots. Moon earned All-Region honors (top 35) for the third time in his career, making him the first Storm runner to earn three All-Region honors since Danny Bauer from 1982-1984. The Storm's eighth-place finish makes this the third straight regional meet that the Storm have placed in the top 10.

Sophomore Cade Mash continued his fine sophomore campaign by taking 48th in a time of 26:15.9, with junior Ean Warrick finishing in 55th, clocking a time of 26:22.4.

Louden Foster ended his campaign on a high note, being the fourth Storm runner to cross the finish line with a time of 26:57.5, earning 72nd place. Marc Medici completed the scoring for Simpson with a 75th place finish in 27:05.8.

Rounding off the lineup was Andrew Klein, who took 78th in 27:09.0, and senior Noah Nelsen, finishing in 138th with a time of 28:18.3.

"It was a terrific bounceback race for Spencer", said head coach Heath Moenck. "It was rewarding to see all his hard work paying off with an outstanding finish."

While the rest of the squad will focus on the track season now, Moon will travel to Lansing, Mich. to compete in the NCAA Division III Championship next Saturday at 12 p.m.

Team Standings - Top 10
1. North Central (Ill.) - 41 points
2. Wartburg - 55 points
3. Loras - 112 points
4. Chicago - 113 points
5. Washington (Mo.) - 123 points
6. Luther - 196 points
7. Central - 205 points
8. Simpson - 251 points
9. Millikin - 272 points
10. Wheaton (Ill.) - 327 points

Storm Lineup
3. Spencer Moon - 25:09.1
48. Cade Mash - 26:15.9
55. Ean Warrick - 26:22.4
72. Louden Foster - 26:57.5
75. Marc Medici - 27:05.8
78. Andrew Klein - 27:09.0
138. Noah Nelsen - 28:18.3