TIFFIN, Ohio- The Heidelberg University men’s cross country team had a successful start to the 2011 season with a victory in the Tiffin Team Challenge against Mount Union, Ohio Northern, and Tiffin University. In a unique format, the four teams tethered their runners together for the 6-Kilometer season opening course. In order to score, the teams, which started with up to seven members attached at the hip, must finish with five runners tethered.
The Student Prince squad consisting of seniors, Jacob Hoffman (Shelby), John Gogle (Sunbury/Big Walnut), and Jordan Karnes (Edgerton), and juniors Gareth Graver (Enon/Greenon), and Kevin Neel (Wellington/New London) battled temperatures in the 90s and focused on teamwork to finish as the top complete team of five with a time of 20:47. Competing unattached for the Berg included junior Dustin Kuess (Coldwater) (21:26), sophomores, Drew Avsec (Geneva) (21:39), Logan Leis (Zanesfield/ Benjamin Logan) (21:57), and David Kindall (Sullivan/Black River) (23:07), and freshman, Jared McFadden (Sullivan/Black River) (22:47). They return to action next Saturday, Sept. 10 in Delaware, OH for the Ohio Wesleyan Invite.