GARDEN CITY, Kan. -- The Vincennes University Cross Country teams competed in the NJCAA Division I National Championships on Saturday afternoon.

Liz Bredeweg came away with a 53rd overall finish in the Women’s 5K race in a field of 293 runners. The Trailblazer sophomore covered the arduous course at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course in a time of 21 minutes, 3.7 seconds.

Her place was 62 spots better than last season’s finish.

Bredeweg started in 67th place after the first mile before climbing up to 50th at the two-mile marker.

In the men’s race, Milan Todorovic’s 81st place finish guided the Trailblazers to a 23rd place finish in the team standings out of 36 complete teams.

Todorovic covered the 8K course in a time of 28:27.7. The Trailblazer freshman improved his placing at every marker throughout the race as he started in 170th after the first mile. Todorovic climbed up to 131st after 2.2 miles, 114 at the 2.9 mile marker, and 93rd after 4.0 miles.

A total of 284 runners competed in the race.

The Trailblazers were without the services of one their top runners as sophomore Atlantis Green did not race due to injury. Green was the individual champion of the Region XXIV meet two weeks ago.

Seth Vaquero finished 107th with a time of 28:49.9.

Morne Scharnick crossed in a time of 29:11.5 -- good for 128th -- while Bryaun Manuel (211th) and Jacob Adams (215th) rounded out the scoring for VU.

Logan Busz, who did not join the team until midway through the season, placed 246th.

Central Arizona captured the team title with 100 points, followed by Iowa Central (118) and El Paso (123).

The Trailblazer teams will be back in action next weekend at the NJCAA Half Marathon Nation meet in Gulf Shores, AL.

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VINCENNES UNIVERSITY, Department of University Relations, www.vinu.edu/news/newsroom