TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men's Cross Country Championship took place on Friday morning in Tallahassee, Fla. at Apalachee Regional Park. Southwestern College's Ablel Gebreselase was a part of the festivities and put together a splendid effort en route to a 77th-place finish. His time of 25:18.4 was just four seconds off his personal-best showing as a collegiate harrier, and it set a new season-best time for him. He improved upon last year's trip to nationals by three places, having finished 80th a season ago. 

"After a very tough season where Ablel was not able to run for almost the entire month of October due to injury," said head coach Carter Benge. "This race at Cross Country Nationals was a great way to end the season on a positive note. After working hard on developing the mental aspect of running - something you cannot ignore when you are injured for a month - I believe Ablel is starting to show great improvement and we are both looking forward to seeing what he is able to do with this new mental fortitude in the indoor and outdoor track seasons."

It is a nice ending to the cross country season for the Moundbuilders, as SC cross country/track & field heads forward into the indoor season, which looms just around the corner.

--buildersports.com--