HOLLAND, Mich. – Paul Lewis added another achievement to his already impressive resume as an Albion College athlete Saturday when he was the top overall finisher in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Cross Country Championship.
Lewis became the first Albion athlete to finish the season as the MIAA's Most Valuable Runner since Jim Dow achieved the award for the 1964 and 1965 seasons. Lewis is also the first non-Calvin College athlete to finish as the MIAA's Most Valuable Runner since 1987.
Calvin first-year runner Zach Nowicki held the early lead but was unable to sustain his aggressive pace. Lewis caught Nowicki at the 2-mile mark and gradually pulled away down the stretch, reaching the finish line in 25:12. Lewis, who won the race by 200 meters, finished 17 seconds ahead of teammate and second-place finisher Mitchell Klingler. Klingler joined Lewis on the all-MIAA first team.
"Paul and Mitch controlled the race from start to finish," Albion Coach Hayden Smith said. "They worked hard together. I told them early in the week if you finish one-two you're both champions."
Albion finished third in the team standings with a total 2 points higher than second-place Hope.
"The men ran well enough to leave frustrated," Smith said. "It was, without question, our best meet of the year, but we have a lot to be proud of."
Kendall Maddox was the 16th runner to reach the finish line, achieving a time of 26:14. Smith said he would have achieved a place on the all-conference team had he turned in a better performance in the MIAA Jamboree.
Mitch Clinton (26:32) and Bradley Baker (26:49) completed Albion's top five.
