The Aurora University Spartan men's cross country team opened the 2012 season with two meets on the schedule, a 6k Earlybird Invitational at Elmhurst College and the Hokum Karem at Wabash College.

In the Elmhurst Earlybird Invitational on Friday, August 31, AU freshman Fabian Cabrera set a school record in the 6k with his time of 20:10.3 which was good for 37th place. AU would finish 10th out of 18 teams with six runners competing.

Joining Cabrera was Brandon Miller (65th - 21:27.8), Aron Nava (92nd - 22:36.4), Dale Bolthouse (116th - 23:32.3), Michael Miller (122nd - 23:54.3) and Matt Sanders (149th - 26:05.6).

On Saturday, the Spartans traveled to Wabash College and competed in the Hokum Karem, a two-man relay event. Adding to the days festivities was a driving rain storm courtesy of the former hurricane Isaac.

The Spartans had nine two-man teams take part in the meet with AU finishing fourth out of seven teams. The duo of senior Drew Schmitt and freshman Alex Mertes were the top AU team, finishing seventh with a time of 29:43. Nick Cole and Nate Rehkopf finished 17th (30:21), Jordan Tripp and Grady Schroeder finished 19th (--), Kyle Kayzar and Calvin Robinson finished 24th (--), Nick Quiroz and Sean Leaf finished 25th (--), Kevin Crozier and Pete Jaros finished 29th (--), Roberto Gonzalez and Morgan Goetschel finished 35th (--), Cody McSorely and Nico Gonzalez finished 36th (--) and Doug Belling and Mitch Fox finished 39th (32:56).