JOPLIN, Mo. — The Pittsburg State University men's cross country team raced to an 11thplace finish – the highest NCAA finish in program history – at the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championships Saturday (Nov. 18).
 
The Gorillas scored 370 points in the 10-kilometer race held at Tom Rutledge Corss Country Course on the Missouri Southern State University campus. Wingate University captured the national crown with a low score of 470 points. National runner-up Colorado School of Mines with 79 points.
 
Redshirt senior Matthew Oglesby (Galena, Kan.) led the Gorillas across the finish line in 19th overall place (11th scored position) in 29 minutes, 51.8 seconds to earn NCAA Division II All-America honors for a second straight season. Oglesby recorded the highest nationals finish for a Gorilla since Adam Volkert placed seventh at nationals in 2013.

Redshirt junior Braden Zaner (Raymore, Mo.) finished in 49th scored position in 30:41.6, while redshirt senior Mason Strader (Holton, Kan.) finished in 63rd scored position (30:50.5).

Redshirt freshman Nathan Hinrichs (122nd, 31:33.5) and redshirt freshman Dylan Sprecker (123rd, 31:34.1) rounded out Pitt State's top five scored runners.
 
Pitt State made the program's eighth all-time appearance at the NCAA Division II National Championships, the third straight berth in the national meet. The Gorillas previous best NCAA era finish were 15th place showings in 1991, 1998 and 2021 (15th place tie).