SOUTH BEND, Ind. (9/16/2016) -- Junior
Ben Kendell nearly made it two straight weeks with a win as he claimed second place at the National Catholic Championships on Friday.
The 8k race was held at the Burke Golf Course on the campus of Notre Dame with Detroit Mercy tallying 228 points for ninth.
Kendell recorded a time of 25:06, just 10 seconds behind the winner. He was the top finisher for all 86 Division I harriers. The time was also the fourth fastest in school history at Notre Dame, while the runner-up mark was the highest a Titan has ever finished in the 37-year history of the event.
Freshman
Adam Fraeyman was 55th in his 8k debut clocking a 27:24, while classmate
James McCann was just a few seconds behind him placing 58th in 27:31.
The Titans will have a week off before competing in the Greater Louisville Classic on Oct. 1.
Here Is How The Action Went Down At The National Catholic Championships
- Five freshmen and seven Titan runners were all making their 8k debuts.
- Junior Ben Kendell set a PR at the Notre Dame course by 17 seconds over the 25:23 he ran last year.
- The field consisted of 286 runners, including 86 from Division I. He was the top finisher among the DI runners and was just behind Chris Striegel of Bellarmine.
- Kendell now has three top-12 performances at Notre Dame in his three years, and his runner-up effort was the highest a Titan has ever finished at the National Catholic Championships.
- The 25:06 run is the fourth fastest at Notre Dame with the top three marks belonging to Titan Hall Of Famer Ken Dubois, who posted a time of 24:41 in 1986, 25:02 in 1985 and 25:05 in 1984.
- Freshman Adam Fraeyman was the top rookie runner tallying a 27:24 for 55th overall, while another freshman James McCann was on his heels taking 58th in 27:31.
- Senior Austin Wigent was part of the scoring five for the first time this season finishing fourth on the team and 64th overall in 27:55.
- In the JV race, junior Greg Ingle was the top Titan recording a time of 28:11 for 11th.
- Besides the team competing, Director of Track and Field & Cross Country Guy Murray '89 has been to 35 of the 37 National Catholic Championships, missing the event in 1989 and 1994. He was the Titans' top runner in 1988 with a 68th-place effort in 27:00.
