VANCOUVER, Wash. - For the first time in school history, the Marian University men's cross country team traveled to the NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championships and earned a 20th-place finish in Vancouver, Wash., on Saturday.

The Knights finished with a total of 479 and finished one second, on average time, ahead of the University of Rio Grande for 20th position. Number-one ranked Malone University won the team title with 44 points and an average time of 25:18. The Knights finished with an average time of 26:46.

Senior Kyle Murray (Morgantown, Ind./Indian Creek) earned All-America honors after he finished in 26th place in a field of 323 runners. Murray finished the 8-kilometer race in 25:47, the second-fastest time of his career.

Senior Michael Foerster (Ferdinand, Ind./Forest Park) earned 100th-place finish with a time of 26:33, while senior Thomas Jeschke (Indianapolis, Ind./Decatur Central) earned a 110th-place finish with a time of 26:37.

Sophomore Derek Harris (McCordsville, Ind./Scecina Memorial) finished in 190th position with a time of 27:21, while sophomore Nick Sefton (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) finished in 211th place with a time of 27:31.

Junior Ryan Wieser (Guilford, Ind./East Central) earned a 247th-place finish with a time of 27:59, while senior Ryan Strom (Sellersburg, Ind./Silver Creek) finished in 295th position with a time of 29:17.

The 2009 season was the most successful year in Marian University history as the Knights claimed the Mid-Central College Conference title for the first time in school history. Senior Kyle Murray won the MCC individual title for the first time in his career, and head coach Dave Roberts was named MCC Coach of the Year for the first time in his career.