Knoxville, TN - The third-ranked UC men's cross country team captured the team title out of 20 teams at the NAIA Appalachian Challenge at Sequoyah Park on Friday morning. The Patriots tallied 33 points in a highly competitive field that featured 202 runners from multiple nationally ranked NAIA teams in the 8K race.  

Cumberlands showcased incredible pack running, placing all seven runners inside the top 20 overall. Ryan Ehrler led the way with a runner-up finish, clocking a time of 24:22.41. This is the fastest 8K time by a Patriot this season and is the seventh fastest time in program history. 

Close behind was Ishak Mekideche, who placed fourth overall with a 24:28.87, followed by Julius Makinen in fifth (24:30.45) to give the Patriots three runners inside the top five. 

The depth continued with Noah Loeser taking 10th (24:40.71) and Noah McClellan placing 12th (24:41.92) to round out the scoring five. Casey DeSilvey finished just a step behind in 13th (24:42.45), while Caden Cull crossed in 20th (24:55.93) to give UC seven runners in the top 20 overall. 

The Patriots' front-running dominance and tight 19-second spread among their top five highlight their strength heading into the championship portion of the season. 

Other nationally ranked teams at this event included No. 6 Milligan, who finished runner-up, No. 23 Rio Grande in third, No. 21 Montreat in fourth, and RV Tennessee Southern rounding out the top five. 

UC will return to competition at the Mid-South Conference Championships on Friday, November 7 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. 

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