After finishing 4th at the NJCAA Cross Country Championships on Saturday the TSC Trojan men had a tall order improving upon the week's accolades. However, as has become a regular occurrence in recent years, the Trojans outdid themselves. The field slated to compete was touted as the strongest to ever take the starting line at an NJCAA Championship. It would live up to predictions, with three individuals going under the previous championship record time.
The starter's gun sent the field of 112 men off at a dangerous pace. With 13 miles ahead of them the athletes wasted no time in getting competition underway. A pack of three Trojans were quickly amongst the leaders. Brian Rotich, Regan Longei, and Emmanuel Biwott held positions 9, 10, and 11 two miles into the race. Shortly after 3 miles the group began to splinter, with Rotich getting a few strides ahead of the other two Trojans.
At 8 miles Rotich had moved into 6th place but had large gaps to cover if he were to move up in placing. He did just that over the remaining miles before out-sprinting another athlete to finish in third place overall. Rotich's time of 1 hour 4 minutes and 49 seconds was ten seconds under the previous National Record. A few minutes later Biwott flashed across the finish line in 11th place individually, taking his second All-American honor of the weekend. Right behind was Longei who out raced another athlete to the line to also take his second All-American Honor of the weekend. The Trojans would finish in 3rd place as a team, with Iowa Central Community College taking the top spot and Northwest Kansas finishing second.
Adrian Villareal continued a successful weekend of competition by finishing in 30th place. Teammate Jarred Baca was close behind in 31st place. Conner Dosmann ran a ten minute personal best and finished 47th. Ethan Coyhis rounded out the contingent from TSC in 64th place.
Coach Masterson praised her men's team saying, "These guys have not had an easy fall. They've faced adversity in many ways and risen above it. I'm very proud of who they are as people, and as athletes." She also praised Rotich's performance. "Brian ran inspired today. He races with passion every time out. Today was a race all those who watched will remember for a long time."