Oskaloosa, Iowa - Viterbo University freshmen Pedro Gonzalez ( Long Branch, N.J., N.J.), Patrick Understeller ( Mountain View, Hawaii, Hawaii) and Cameron Olson ( Holmen, Wis., Wis.) led the V-Hawk's efforts at the 2009 Midwest Collegiate Conference Championships at William Penn University. Gonzalez finished 14^th overall in 28:25 for the 8-k course. He was followed closely by Understeller who finished 15^th overall in 28:27 and Olson who finished 22^nd out of 68 runners in 28:58.

Junior Nathan Spangler ( Richland Center, Wis., Wis.) finished 24^th overall with a personal record time of 29:02. "Nathan really ran a strong race, especially considering how his mileage in practice has been limited due to injuries," said Viterbo head coach John Metelko. "He didn't let pain affect him and really came to race today".

For the second consecutive year, the V-Hawk harriers finished fourth overall. The meet was won by St. Ambrose University who will represent the MCC at the National Championship. The individual champion was St. Ambrose's John Darmody in 25:50.

While the season concludes for the Viterbo harriers, the young cross country team will lose no seniors to graduation.

Overall Team Results:

Men: 1.) St. Ambrose (29 points), 2.) Mount Mercy (64 points), 3. Grand View (89 points), 4. Viterbo (102 points), 5. Ashford (106 points), 6. William Penn (150 points), 7. Clarke (171 points), 8. Iowa Wesleyan (incomplete)

Individual Viterbo Results

Men (out of 68 runners, all times for 8-K)

14. Pedro Gonzalez 28:25

15. Patrick Understeller 28:27

22. Cameron Olson 28:58

24. Nathan Spangler 29:02

33. Sebastian Kingsbury 30:17

39. Dennis Campos 30:42

46. Matt Long 31:29

60. Kyle Nordby 33:53