LANSING, Mich.—Lewis & Clark College cross country sophomore Max Aldrich crossed the line in 135^th place at his first collegiate National Championship Meet on Saturday at Forest Akers Golf Course
 
THE BASICS
 
Riley Buese – 135^th out of 294 Runners
No Team Score 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Facing freezing temperatures with a wind chill hovering around 10 degrees and snow and ice across the course, Aldrich got off to an extremely fast start before settling in as the race went along. 
 
The sophomore finished the first mile in 30^th place overall after posting a 4:59.0 first mile of the race. He was just 3.8 seconds behind the leader at the first marker. 
 
Aldrich ran the second mile in 5:08.8 seconds (10:07.8) to fall to 49^th place. 
 
At the next marker, Aldrich was sitting in 61^st place with a time of 14:48.6 through the first 4.6K. He dipped to 93^rd at the 6.3K marker with a time of 20:14.7. 
 
The sophomore was in 111^th place at the final checkpoint (7K) with a time of 22:43.6. 
 
He finished the final 1K in 3:23.3 to come across the line in 135^th place (26:15.8). 
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Aldrich posted the top finish by a Pioneer since 2019 and the third fastest-time since 1999 (six total entrants). 
• Aldrich made it three years in a row the Pioneers have sent a male racer to Nationals. It's only the second time in program history Lewis & Clark has accomplished the feat (1962-64) and fourth time in program history. 
• Aldrich finished fifth out of nine Northwest Conference runners.  

WHAT'S NEXT 
 
The men's cross country team will take part in the Lewis & Clark Track & Field team beginning in second semester.