The men’s cross country team debuted Saturday in Decorah, Iowa with promising individual and team results against a competitive field at the Luther College All-America Race.

Bo Rydze ’05, Roscoe Sopiwnik ’06 and Eric Olson ’05 led the team on the flat four-mile course, placing 15th, 16th and 22nd respectively. The Scots placed eighth against a regional field of 16.

Tom Hammer ’07 placed 11th in the JV race, posting the team’s fifth best time.

New Head Coach Matt Haugen was pleased with the results. “We raced like we train: together, consistent, and focused,” he said. “And we displayed punishing finishes.”

Team members agree that Haugen, who brings 16 years of experience as coach of St. Olaf and as director of the U.S. Triathlon Olympic program, has had an immediate impact on the team. “I think Matt has raised us to a whole different level,” said Jordan Selbo ’06 who had the team’s fourth best finish. “He adds [so much], with respect to training techniques and motivational strategies. Under his guide, the main thing we have to look forward to this season is improvement and strength through unity.”

“I think the team has a real shot at making Nationals this year,” Hammer said. “It’s simply a matter of us making it happen and getting more support up front for our top three.”

The long-term success of the team is promising. The roster boasts 24 runners this year, all but one of whom will return next season. Nine team members are first-years.

“Coach Matt’s calm, patient and determined approach…will ultimately give the team success,” Sopiwnik said. “Because of his approach guys are really starting to say, ‘Yeah. I can do that.’”

Haugen believes that although the Luther Race was a good start, the team needs a solid “Mac Pack” pushing the front pack at regionals at Grinnell.

The Scots’ next competition is in Iowa at Grinnell’s Les Duke Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 20.