SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Freshman Derek Nájera finished third overall in his first collegiate 8K, helping the John Brown University men's cross country team capture the Golden Eagle Invitational title Saturday (Oct. 10) with the second-fastest team time in program history at Pollard's Field.
John Brown scored 57 points to win the eight-team field and finished with a team time of 2:09:26, trailing only the program-record 2:08:13 set at the 2025 Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic.
Nájera crossed third in 25:17, matching the eighth-fastest 8K time in the John Brown record book. Junior Sam Burkett followed in fifth at 25:27, while senior Zach Briscoe placed 13th in a collegiate-best 26:03. Sophomore Ethan Elder took 15th in 26:06, and freshman Andrew Dawson rounded out the scoring five in 25th at 26:31.
Nájera, Elder and Dawson each established their first collegiate 8K marks.
Seven more Golden Eagles recorded collegiate 8K bests outside the scoring five. Freshman Sam Cunningham finished 37th in 27:15, sophomore Jeremiah Briscoe took 44th in 27:34, freshman Josh Schulte crossed 58th in 28:13 and junior Pedro Ignacio Morales followed in 60th at 28:15. Freshmen William Kile and Yeseong An finished 61st and 71st in 28:16 and 28:46, respectively, while sophomore Luke Preedy placed 72nd in 28:56. In all, 11 Golden Eagles established collegiate 8K bests, with six improving previous marks and five recording their first collegiate 8K times.
"One of the biggest shifts we've made with our gentlemen this year has been building greater unity and trust in one another," head cross country coach Ben Ledbetter said. "Today, we saw that come through as they worked together in groups and executed their race plans.
"I'm incredibly proud of every one of them and the way they continue to compete for each other."
Director of track and field and cross country Peter Cunningham also pointed to the continued development of both programs.
"I couldn't be more excited for both of our programs," Cunningham said. "This crew is doing everything we're asking of them right now – working consistently hard, leading with encouragement and competing with a peace-filled aggression once the gun goes off."
The race was contested on a 2-kilometer loop combining open grass fields with dirt sections through wooded terrain, creating a mix of runnable stretches and tighter, more technical sections that required runners to adjust to changing footing and turns throughout each lap.
The Blue and Gold return to competition Saturday (Oct. 24) at the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic in Ashland, Neb.
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