MIAC Champions! Men's cross country takes title behind Ruon

Mike Ludwig
November 1, 2008

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The St. Olaf men's cross country team, behind individual champion Dubuol Ruon, won the MIAC Championship on Saturday afternoon at Como Park.

David Green was 12th overall and Cullen O'Neill 13th for the Oles, each earning All-MIAC honors, in the team victory.

The MIAC title is the Oles' third overall and second since 2004.

First year head coach Phil Lundin, who left Division I Minnesota to take the St. Olaf job, credited Ruon but also said his second through fifth runners were the key to the win.

"Duboul is a special talent, he's got a big heart and ran a great race," said Lundin. "David Green and Cullen O'Neill have done a fantastic job this year, and the did it once again. Jacob Marotz, our fourth runner, was our MVP today."

Marotz sat out most of the season with an injury before running his first race in mid October.

Ruon held off Macalester's Martin Mudry by four seconds to claim the league's individual crown in his first season of collegiate cross country. He played for the St. Olaf men's soccer team last fall.

Also scoring for the Oles were Marotz in 17th and Jon Lambert in 32nd.

The team competes next on Nov. 15 at the NCAA Division III Central Region Championships in Grinnell, Iowa.

Contact media relations specialist Mike Ludwig at (507) 786-3834 or ludwigm@stolaf.edu.