FORT WAYNE, Ind. (11/1/2025) -- Senior Joshua Otten nearly broke a school record and freshman Colin Murray set another rookie standard, with both runners earning All-League, as the University of Detroit Mercy men's cross country team wrapped up the Horizon League Championships on Saturday at Purdue Fort Wayne. 

UDM tallied 156 points for seventh in the 8k postseason race. 

Otten was at the front of the pack the entire race as he was third in a career-best 23:55, just one second shy of the school record. The time was the best ever by a Titan at the league meet, as he was First Team All-Horizon League, showing progression from 23rd to 11th to the top three in the HL over the last three seasons. 

Murray broke his own freshman mark in taking 12th in 24:17, the best time by a true freshman in the race. It also ranked as the third-best 8k in school history, following Otten's third-place dash and Ben Kendell's 23:54 at Louisville in 2018. 

Sophomore Ryan Belanger posted a career-low 24:40 for 24th, almost a minute better than his previous best and standing as the fourth-best 8k in the school record book. 

Junior Christopher Russelburg showed tremendous grit and determination in tallying a 25:38 for 65th, as he ran the last 3k with one shoe after it broke during the race. At the time, he was in the top 30 and finished the race despite having to run on stones and gravel to close out the final 1k. 

Junior Kenyon Popiel recorded a career time of 25:38 for 66th, more than a minute better than his PR, and sophomore Nicholas Yaquinto earned a career mark by four seconds, placing 72nd in 25:42. 

Sophomore Caleb Wynn had a personal-best 25:52 for 80th, and graduate senior Nicholas Fringer was under 26 in his career, taking 81st in 25:53. 

The Titans will now get ready for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Nov. 14, hosted by Evansville.