GRAND RAPIDS (9/17) After suffering through scorching heat in their season opener, the Cornerstone Men's Cross Country team took full advantage when the temperature was 25 degrees cooler at the Calvin College Knight Invite.

Junior, Jared Courtright led a tight pack of Golden Eagles through the first half of the race. After reaching the three mile mark in 15:47 Cody Risch, the number five man, stepped off the course. "Cody's almost fully recovered after being injured this summer," said CU men's distance coach, Nate Van Holten. "The plan was for him to run hard for three miles then stop. Since he was 40 seconds ahead of our next guy, that dramatically changed our position in the race."

In spite of Risch's absence at the finish line the day ended well. Freshman Thomas Bambach showed the best kick in the final 300 meters taking 19^th in 25:41, three seconds ahead of Travis Mabe in 22^nd. Both ran huge personal bests. Courtright took 24^th in 25:49 and Louis Falland finished his first 8k race in 26:10.

Zach Bourdon completed the team score with his 27:47 clocking in 91^st place. Jared Holmberg (28:05 / 98^th) and Tyler Grey (28:36 / 105^th) also ran personal bests.

Cornerstone alumnus, Zach Ripley demolished the field winning by 20 seconds in 24:15. Calvin College claimed the team title with 37 points with Cornerstone placing fifth out of eighteen teams.