JOPLIN, Mo. – The Rangers men's cross country team closed out their 2022 season with the NCAA Central Regional Championship meet Saturday after traveling to Joplin for the meet. Northwestern finished 27th overall in the meet with six placing in the top 200.

"The men's team performed with more depth and at a level this program has not seen in its previous NCAA history. We are delighted with the progress the program has made as we look to the next season,” stated coach Jill Lancaster.

Northwestern Men's Cross Country made school history after the total time for the top five men was the best record in school history. On top of the school record, all seven Northwestern runners on Saturday set personal record for themselves.

The Rangers first runner was Davin Soto for the Red-and-Black finishing 129th in the meet after running with a time of 32:22.37 with an average mile time of 5:12.8. This mark not only set a personal record but set the school record beating his best by 30 seconds.

“The men ran lights out and it all clicked for them today. Every athlete that put on a jersey for the team set a personal record,” stated coach Sterlin Broomfield.

Next pacing the Rangers was Zachary Cox at 145th in the meet running a time of 32:42.89 averaging a mile time of 5:16.2. Cox was able to top his previous best by 1 minute and 20 seconds moving him into the top four for the school record. Benjamin Morfin moved into fifth in the record book after placing 157th for Northwestern as the third Ranger runner to cross the finish line Saturday.

Salat Ibrahim was fourth for Northwestern finishing the meet with a final time of 33:52.89 in the meet moving into seventh. Jeremy Smith placed 184th with a mile time of 5:32.6 totaling a 34:25.75 time and moving into the Northwestern record book.

Draven Hidalgo placed 198th inside the the top 200 for the Rangers with a total time of 36:18.60 in the NCAA regionals. The final Ranger to cross the finish line was Willem Johnson with a time of 39:06.30 for an average of 6:17.8 average.