Heller Finishes 175th at NCAA Cross Country Championships
Redshirt senior finishes in tiem of 31:22.2.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kent State redshirt senior Michael Heller (Stow, Ohio) concluded his career by finishing 175th overall at the NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country Championships Saturday (Nov. 17) at E.P. 'Tom' Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky. Heller crossed the finish line of the 10K-course in 31:22.2.
While Heller did not earn All-America status, the race served as the exclamation mark on a terrific season, and career, for him. The lone representative of the Mid-American Conference in Saturday's race, Heller had placed in the top 10 in each of his first six meets of the season. The season was highlighted by individual titles at the Tommy Evans Invitational and Iona Meet of Champions in the first two races of the season.
Heller accomplished a feat that had never been done in the history of the Golden Flashes' program when he placed third at the MAC Championships to earn all-conference accolades for the fourth year. He then earned all-region accolades at last weekend's NCAA Great Lakes Regional with a 10th-place finish.
Thirty-two Kent State runners have now competed at the NCAA Cross Country Championships (30 men, 2 women). Heller's appearance was the first for the Golden Flashes on the men's side since Jim Loveless in 1991. The Flashes have made team appearances at the national meet on two occasions.
Oklahoma State won the men's NCAA Championship while Oregon captured the women's title.
