CEDARVILLE, Ohio - #T.J. Badertscher# won the individual title to lead the Yellow Jackets to their first NCCAA men's cross country championship in 25 years at the Elvin R. King Cross Country Course.

Badertscher covered the 8,000 meters on a gorgeous day in 26:08 to win by 13 seconds. He is the second consecutive Cedarville runner and fifth overall to win the race joining Dale Shaw (1978), Eric Fillinger (1987, 88, 89), Sergio Reyes (2002), and Evan Thayer (2009) as winners.

The Yellow Jackets, who along with some other teams in the meet rested top runners as prep for next week's NAIA Championship, used their depth to take advantage on a clear, dry, 60° day. Badertscher was the lone runner from CU's recent top seven to compete.

Cedarville finished with 60 points to garner its first NCCAA banner since 1985. Indiana Wesleyan was the runner-up in the 28-team field with 72 points and third-place Trinity Christian had 110.

Three others Yellow Jackets joined Badertscher on the NCCAA All-America Team (top 20 finishers). Ryan Gustafson was 8th in 26:51, Josh Wiseman placed 13th in 27:03, and Neil Klinger was 17th in 27:12.

Greg Johnson narrowly missed All-America honors by placing 21st in 27:20. Joe Niemiec was 24th in 27:27 and Jacob Walter was 72nd in 29:00.

Paul Orchard was recognized as the NCCAA Coach of the Year. Evan Thayer and Hollis Troxel were named NCCAA Scholar-Athletes which are juniors and seniors, who maintain a minimum 3.50 cumulative grade point average.

COMPLETE RESULTS  ♦  NCCAA CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION