The Hillsdale College men's cross country team brought a historic season to a close on Saturday in the NCAA DII Midwest Regional held in the Chicagoland area, with the team's best finish in five years.

The Chargers placed eighth as a team in the event that decides qualification for the NCAA DII Championships in two weeks. Grand Valley won the event and host Lewis and Michigan Tech snagged the other two automatic qualifying spots. 

In a tight race from sixth to ninth, Hillsdale used the strength of its pack to score 261 points, just 11 out of seventh place. Seniors Richie Johnston and Ross Kuhn both finished their cross country careers at Hillsdale with personal best performances in the 10K to lead the way for the Chargers. Johnston placed 26th in 31:41.33, just one spot from earning All-Region honors, while Kuhn was right behind in 28th with a 31:45.75.

Junior Gabriel Phillips placed in the top 50 for the Chargers in the tough race, taking 49th in 32:10.67, sophomore Caleb Youngstedt placed 77th in 32:41.82 and junior Nathaniel Osborne took 81st in 32:48.55 to round out Hillsdale's scoring pack in the event.

Senior Donny McArdle placed 108th in 33:17.91 as well for the Chargers, and freshman Zach Self took 140th in 33:59.11.

The finish caps a year for Hillsdale that saw the Chargers win their first conference team championship since 2000 with a G-MAC title two weeks ago. With four of seven slated to return next season, Hillsdale will look to keep the momentum going next fall, while its athletes turn their focus to the indoor track and field season that kicks off in the first week of December.