(Charlotte, NC.) - Waubonsee Community College's Jordan VanBarriger was named the NJCAA Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week. A sophomore from Rockford East High School, VanBarriger outran all 241 competitors representing 14 NCAA Division III colleges, nine junior colleges and four unattached running clubs to win the Aurora University Spartan Classic on Friday, Sept. 13. VanBarriger covered the 8K course at the Oakhurst Forest Preserve on Aurora's far east side in a new school record time of 25:22, holding off Carroll (WI) College's Spencer Kirsteatter the last 150 yards to win by a full eight seconds. VanBarriger trimmed a full minute off his time from a year ago at the same event and eclipsed the Waubonsee record of 25:27 set by Dylan Zangri at the 2017 Region IV Meet. In the Chiefs' two previous meets this fall VanBarriger placed 20th at the Northern Illinois University Huskie Challenge running against primarily NCAA Division I competitors, and 11th at the Elmhurst College Early Bird Invitational. Last year VanBarriger earned All-Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference and All-Region honors, finishing second and third respectively. He went on to place 60th at the NJCAA Division I National Meet in Kansas.
