CARMEL, Ind. - The IUPUI men's cross country team rode its impressive depth to a third straight Horizon League title on a sloppy Northview Church course on Saturday (Oct. 30). The Jaguars put three finishers among the race's top five and had six among the top 11 in a dominating 30-point effort. Youngstown State was second at 59 points. 

Nick Perkins led the way, placing third overall in a time of 25:48.0 and Nate Kaiser was fourth at 25:51.0. Mitchell Gits joined them as first team all-league performers with a fifth-place finish at 25:52.1. 

What was suspected became official as Alex Ratkovich placed eighth at 26:08.3 and Eric Hoffman was tenth at 26:12.0 as the team's No. 5 finisher. IUPUI had a security blanket on ready as redshirt freshman Grant Moon earned the league's Freshman of the Year Award by placing 11th in a time of 26:19.0. 

Mitchell Rans was also in the mix, placing 18th in a time of 26:38.1. 

"We kind of expected (to win) coming in, but you don't want to be overconfident," Horizon League Coach of the Year Chuck Koeppen said afterwards. "We've got a really good group of guys who just go out and fight for each other. They're great guys who show up, work hard and do things the right way.

"I'm really proud of the guys because they earned it."

The Jags took charge from the outset as the group of Kaiser, Perkins and Gits went to the front from the opening gun. That trio set the tone, working together to maintain a composed lead throughout. 

Even as others made their way among the lead pack, namely UIC's Carlos Cabrera who won in a time of 25:36.8 and YSU's Hunter Christopher, who placed second at 25:42.1, the Jaguars' raced confidently amidst less than ideal conditions. 

As soon as the mud caked Ratkovich and Hoffman crossed an adjusted finish line, the celebration began just beyond the final chute. 

With the win, IUPUI becomes the first program to three-peat since Butler capped off a long string of victories with a final title in 2011. Koeppen earned his third straight Coach of the Year Award and an IUPUI runner earned Freshman of the Year honors for a third straight season.  

The Jags, who ranked No. 11 in the Great Lakes Region entering the championships, will compete in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships in Evansville on Friday, Nov. 12.