Trojans Break 8k Program Record at NAIA Great Lakes Challenge

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – No. 5 Taylor broke its team-time record on Saturday with a blazing time of 2:04:12.5 at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge on Saturday.

The incredible team time is over a minute and a half quicker than their next best time this year and 17 seconds faster than the previous best mark set in 2021. Taylor finished second against a loaded field, which included 11 ranked NAIA squads and another four who were receiving votes.

Nathan Burns was the top finisher for the Trojans for the first time this season after recording a personal best time of 24:32.6 to cross the finish line in eighth.

Luke Harber continued his terrific senior season with a season-best time of 24:35.2 to finish 13th and Ryan Hanak notched a 22nd-place finish with a time of 24:51.6.  

Rounding out the top five for TU were Alex Ortiz and Nathan Meister, as Meister obliterated his previous personal best by almost 20 seconds, with a time of 25:08.5. Jordan Burden, Ethan Morgan, and Jared Stayte each ran a personal best time on the quick course in the maroon race for the Trojans.

No. 5 Taylor (75-10) begins the postseason at the Crossroads League Championships on Friday, November 7, hosted by Indiana Wesleyan, with the men running at 11:00 am.

White Division Race

A plethora of athletes competed for TU in the white division race, with Paul Gabrielsen pacing the squad in tenth place recording a personal-best time of 25:14.9.

The fast course produced personal bests for seven more Trojans including Hunter Smith, Keenan Clegg, Cambel Brown, Noah Lowman, Kyle Sweeney, Charlie Hanak, and Aidan Ortiz.