Final Results

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ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. -- Senior Pat Liederbach (Petoskey, MI, Petoskey) ended his collegiate cross country career with his best ever regional run as the men placed 22nd at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, held at the Katke-Cousins Golf Course at Oakland University.

On the day, Detroit totaled 639 points, topping fellow Horizon League schools Milwaukee, Wright State, Youngstown State, Valparaiso and Green Bay in the 10k run.

Liederbach was the story as he became just the third runner in school history to earn four top 100 regional finishes, ending in a career 10k best 31:22.20. His 41st-place effort was also the best of his career and the fifth best mark in Titan history. He also beat HL champion Kris Gauson of Butler.

“I am in the best shape of my career and I felt very good and very confident today,” said Liederbach. “In the past with all the big schools that are here, you can get nervous, but today I ran my race. I was in a good pack upfront and felt pretty good. I was hoping to get in the top 25 and get All-Region, but around the 8k-9k mark, it fell off for me."

Also running in their last collegiate cross country races were seniors Alex Harris (Huntington Woods, MI/Shrine), Ryan Ayala (Coopersville, MI/Coopersville) and Kevin Smalley (Gladwin, MI/Gladwin). Harris took 125th in a personal-best 32:58.36, while Ayala was 162nd in 33:54.45, shaving over a minute off his previous 10k high in the process. Smalley claimed 188th finishing in a time of 35:03.67, while also putting his name in the UDM record books as just the 17th runner in school history to run in four NCAA regionals.

“I thought all the guys today ran a good race and gave a great effort,” said head coach Guy Murray. “Pat was in the front throughout much of the race and the fact he finished where he did shows what a tough region the Great Lakes is.”

Freshman Martin Nelkie (West Branch, MI/Ogemaw Heights) was the third Titan in placing 154th in 33:42.59, while sophomore Edwin Gay (Grosse Pointe, MI/GP South) earned 157th with a run of 33:47.25. Junior Bob Radlich (Cheektowaga, NY/Cleveland Hill) rounded out the varsity seven with a time of 35:09.51 for 191st.

Wisconsin won the overall event with 32 points, while Indiana was runner-up at 76 points. Cincinnati's Eric Finan claimed the individual title in 30:25.34.