SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Max Baeder (So.) from The Evergreen State College finished in eighth place at the NAIA Marathon Classic on Sunday, Dec. 8. The NAIA Marathon Classic was a part of the California International Marathon. Forty-nine runners completed the men's 26-mile, 385-yard race.
Baeder ran the marathon in 2:30:24 (2 hours, 30 minutes, 24 seconds), as he set an Evergreen record. He received All-America status for his eighth place finish. The previous top time for a Geoduck runner in a men's marathon was set by Jim Schultz at 2:38:23 in 1987 during the NAIA District Championships in Seaside, Oregon.
The men's NAIA Marathon Champion was Kennedy Bett from Cumberland University (Ky.) with a time of 2:21:33. Bett won by a minute and 14 seconds over Jacob Kocis from Midway University (Ky.), who was timed at 2:22:47.
Third place went to Nathan Kutscher from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) as he reached the finish line in 2:26:49. Mylan Nocton of Indiana University East was fourth at 2:27:23 and Dawson Andrews from Northwest University (Wash.) was fifth at 2:27:53. Taylor Myers from Dakota State University (S.D.) placed sixth in 2:27:56, just three seconds behind Andrews. Martin Batel from Campbellsville University (Ky.) was seventh in 2:29.35, as he ended the race 49 seconds in front of Baeder.
"This made me dig deep and I was able to let it all hang out, and have an awesome race!," Baeder said. "I couldn't have done it without all the people who supported me this season!"
Baeder's coaches were impressed with his performance at the NAIA Marathon Classic.
"Max has been working tremendously hard over the past few months," Evergreen Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Joel Pearson said. "Watching him place eighth, breaking our school record by over eight minutes, was awesome!"
"Seeing Max attain All-American was an incredible thing," said Evergreen Assistant Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Katie Burnett. "The program is moving in the right direction, and we are so proud!"
Also competing for the Geoducks at the NAIA Marathon Classic was Alauna Carstens (Jr.), who won the women's race. Carstens achieved a time of 2:47:04 to become the NAIA Marathon Champion and earn All-America status. Her time was the second-fastest time ever recorded in the 44-year history of NAIA women's marathon competition. The time also set an Evergreen record and a Cascade Collegiate Conference record. The previous Evergreen record was 3:33:00 by Bonnie McReynolds at the NAIA District Championships in 1988.
"Alauna running the second-fastest marathon in NAIA history was just mind blowing!," Pearson commented.
"The progress Alauna has made in the 16 months since she joined the team has been remarkable," Burnett noted. "We knew she had a lot more to achieve in running, and today she became an NAIA Marathon Champion."