Men's Cross Country 08-09

Senior Grant Russo returns to lead the Big Red men's cross country team in 2008.

After an inspired second place finish at the 2007 North Coast Athletic Conference Championship, the Big Red men's cross country team returns a strong core of upperclassmen along with an exciting group of five freshmen as they look to maintain their position as one of the NCAC's elite teams.

In his 30th year as the head men's cross country coach at Denison, Phil Torrens will be forced to replace last year's national qualifier Joel Bendtsen.  He will turn to seniors Lex Hultquist (Knoxville, Tenn./Webb School), Grant Russo (Medina, Ohio/Medina), Skyler Mosenthal (Briarcliff, N.Y./Briarcliff), Philip Hiltner (Sylvania, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit) and Greg Lyon (Leawood, Kan./Blue Valley North) in 2008.  Russo came on strong at the end of the 2007 season, placing 14th at the NCAC Championship in Gambier.  He earned a second-team All-NCAC award for his finish and went on to place 22nd at the Great Lakes Regional.

Hultquist and Mosenthal also spent the 2007 season as part of the Big Red's regular lineup.  An all-conference performer in track and field, Hultquist posted his best time of the year (26:39) at the Great Lakes Regional.  Mosenthal also finished strong, posting two of his best finishes at the conference and regional championship meets. 

Juniors Adam Tewahade (Aurora, Colo./Regis Jesuit), Christopher Bennett (Indianapolis, Ind./Heritage Christian) and Mike Shirar (St. Louis, Mo./Ladue Horton Watkins) return to lead the class of juniors.  Tewahade earned second-team All-NCAC last year following his 15th place finish at the conference championships.  Sophomores Todd Johnson (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles) and Dan Rafferty (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek) return along with newcomer Dan Doggett (Byfield, Mass./Governor Dummer Academy) while the class of first-year athletes features five runners looking to fight for a spot in the top-seven.

Denison will begin their season on Sept. 5 when they host the annual Denison Fall Festival at Bryn Du Mansion in Granville.  Both the Great Lakes College Association (GLCA) Championship and the NCAC Championship meets will be hosted by Oberlin College this season while the annual All-Ohio Championship will take place in Delaware, Ohio on Oct. 10.

In the annual preseason coaches poll conducted by the NCAC office, the Big Red was picked to finish fourth with 72 total points.  They finished behind Oberlin (74), Ohio Wesleyan (79) and Allegheny (100).