Graceland Men’s Cross Country Competes at Indian Hills Invitational

OTTUMWA, Iowa – Oct. 19, 2025 – The Graceland University men's cross country team took the course Saturday at the Indian Hills Invitational, racing in a highly competitive 8-kilometer field against several top junior college and NAIA programs. The Yellowjackets placed 9th overall, with three finishers posting times under 33 minutes on a brisk morning at the Ottumwa Airport Complex.

Romero Leads Yellowjackets in Season Benchmark

Junior Rene Romero led the Yellowjackets with a 50th-place finish, clocking in at 30:39.96. Romero maintained steady mile splits through the midsection of the race and held position through the final loop, establishing himself as Graceland's top finisher for the second time this season.

Romero was followed closely by Ethan Ingram, who placed 52nd in 30:49.97, and Xavier Rangel, who ran 32:20.22 to take 57th. Senior Hosah Niebauer completed the Yellowjackets' top four with a time of 43:04.91, battling through a challenging final stretch on limited depth.

Although the Yellowjackets did not field a full scoring five, the group showed commitment and resilience against a deep field, many of whom came from two-year programs with national championship aspirations.

Top Programs Dominate Field

Des Moines Area Community College captured the men's team title with a low score of 37 points, placing four runners in the top 10. Indian Hills Community College followed in second (74), with Heartland CC and St. Ambrose tied for third (78). The top individual finisher was Indian Hills' Bailey Taig, who posted an impressive time of 24:52.31 on the 8K course.

Graceland, while finishing outside of team scoring, used the opportunity to test late-season race strategies and individual pacing plans in preparation for upcoming championship meets.

"Our men showed good toughness today," said head coach Tom Shore. "With a short roster, we're focusing on individual improvements and race execution. Rene and Ethan both had strong showings, and we'll use this race as a stepping stone toward our next meet."

Focus Shifts to Final Regular Season Meet

Graceland does not record a win-loss record in cross country, as performances are evaluated on time progression, team spread, and race placement in each event. Saturday's race provided valuable data on split pacing and endurance as the team continues to build fitness and cohesion.

"The important thing now is recovery and sharpening," Shore added. "We've got one more opportunity to tune up before the conference meet, and that's going to be the focus this week in practice."

The Yellowjackets return to competition on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic, hosted by Doane University and the College of Saint Mary. The race will be held at Mahoney State Park in Ashland, Nebraska, with the men's 8K race scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. CDT.

For more information on Graceland cross country and all of Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com