Results
 
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Oredigger veteran Dawson Gunn guided the Colorado School of Mines men's cross country team to a fourth-place finish Friday morning at the Gans Creek Classic hosted by the University of Missouri.
 
Gunn was Mines' top runner, taking 10th overall after traversing the 8K event in 22:52.7. He was also the top non-NCAA Division I finisher in a field of 257 competitors. His performance anchored the Orediggers' team score of 175 which trailed only #16 Arkansas, a Tennessee team receiving votes in the national rankings, and Wichita State. Overall, Mines' top-five finish came in a field of 30 teams including 27 NCAA Division I programs, the top-ranked junior college team in Iowa Western Community College, and the #2 team from the NAIA – Indiana Wesleyan. Other programs the Orediggers beat included #28 Missouri. #30 Kansas, Colorado State, Texas, and Nebraska among others.
 
The Orediggers responded to the starting gun and took the team lead through the first 2K thanks to quality team running. As the race progressed, the Razorbacks separated themselves by claiming the top two spots and three in the top 10. Even so, Gunn held strong at #12 through 3K with Ethan Grolnic, Braden Struhs, and Daniel Appleford giving Mines four runners inside the top 25 and five inside the top 30. By the halfway point, the field had begun to filter, and various runners made their moves which dropped the Orediggers from second to third in the team standings. Gunn, Grolnic, and Struhs continued digging deep and refused to give up their positions in the top 25. Meanwhile, Rowan Nicholas made his push across the final 3K and rose 17 positions to help Mines' final score. At the finish line, the Orediggers' scoring five included Gunn (10th), Grolnic (20th), Struhs (23rd), Appleford (31st), and Nicholas (96th). O'Malley, Chris Pietrak, and Cody Wyman rounded out Mines' eight-man contingency to cap the successful day.
 
Friday marked Mines' first-ever appearance at the Gans Creek Classic. Gunn's 22:52.7 was only a few seconds off a top-10 time in course history. The top eight runners in the race posted times faster than the previous #10, all-time mark at Gans Creek Cross Country Course. Friday's race was also the 2026 debut for all eight Orediggers in the field.
 
Mines' next races will be the FHSU Tiger Open on Saturday, Oct. 10, in Hays, Kan., and D2 Pre-Nationals on Sunday, Oct. 11, in Lawrence, Kan.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines cross country on "X" (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @csmtrack. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, "X" and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.