The Aurora University men's cross country team opened their season with a statement on Friday at the Elmhurst Earlybird Invitational.

MEET INFORMATION
FINAL RESULT:  Aurora University 3^rd place
LOCATION: Elmhurst, Illinois – Eldridge Park
RACE DISTANCE: 6K (three 2,000 meter loops)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Aurora University finished 3^rd out of 15 teams with a score of 83 points. The top two teams were North Central College and Loras College who are both highly ranked nationally. Senior Alex Duncan had a phenomenal race for the Spartans placing 13^th in the meet and breaking AU's 6000 meter record with a time of 19:54. The Spartan men's top 7 had an amazing spread of 10 places and 21 seconds between the 1 and 5 men.
 
"This was a tough race after a long week of training, but it was great to have my teammates up with me keeping me mentally focused during the race, said Duncan. "I look at this record as a team achievement not just an individual one."
 
TOP SPARTAN PERFORMERS
Alex Duncan – 13th – 19:54
Jimmy Baeskens – 14th - 19:56
Carl Way – 16th - 20:01
Christian Barajas – 17th - 20:01
Nick Shaw – 23rd - 20:15
Anthony Barrios – 29th - 20:41
Matthew Taves – 30th - 20:42
Jeremiah Cooley – 46th - 20:42
Luke Miller – 57th - 21:01
Brandon Estrada – 59th - 21:05
 
UP NEXT
The next race for the Spartan men will be the Spartan Classic on Friday September 9 at the Oakhurst Forest Preserve in Aurora, Illinois.  Meet time kicks off at 5:45 pm.