Men's XC Places Second at WHACs; Rodriguez, Weeks Named to First Team

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Jesiah Rodriguez (Erie, Mich./Erie Mason) placed second and David Weeks (Eaton Rapids, Mich./Eaton Rapids) took fourth, leading the Siena Heights men's cross country team to a runner-up finish during the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships at Riverside on Saturday. Seventy-one runners competed.

The Saints, who had 49 team points, finished behind only Aquinas (25). The winners were led by top finisher Devin Lea, who clocked in at 24:57 on the 8-kilometer course.

Rodriguez crossed the line in 25:04 and Weeks finished in 25:31. Both were named to the All-WHAC First Team.

Justin Bateson (Blissfield, Mich./Blissfield) earned All-WHAC Second Team honors for SHU, placing eighth in 25:51.

Other scorers for Siena Heights were Zach Widner (Detroit, Mich./Weston Prep), who placed 15th in 26:15, and Kyle Smith (Shelby Township, Mich./De La Salle), who was 22nd in 26:37.

Mark Haukereid (Bridgeman, Mich./Bridgeman) added a 24th-place finish for the Saints, crossing the line in 26:54, while Andrew Mark (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) snagged 31st with a time of 27:15.

The SHU men will wrap up their cross country season on Saturday, Nov. 19, when they participate at the NAIA Championships in Vancouver, Wash.

Rodriguez, Weeks and Bateson have qualified for Nationals as individual runners. The Saints, as a team, are awaiting word from the NAIA with hopes of receiving an at-large bid.