Villa Zapatero Wins Third Straight GLVC Cross Country Championship, Leads Panthers To Second

KENOSHA, Wis. - Drury senior Jaime Villa Zapatero became just the third runner in Great Lakes Valley Conference history to win at least three individual championships, leading the Panthers to a second place team finish at the Men's Cross Country Championships held here on Saturday.

Zapatero, named GLVC Runner of the Year for a third straight year, finished in 24 minutes, 41 seconds to win by nine seconds over runner-up Dustin Emerick of team champion Southern Indiana. Zapatero joins James Nolan of Southern Indiana (four times, 1980-84) and Daruius Janczewski of Ashland (1985, '86 and '88) as runners who won the GLVC title at least three times in their career.

Southern Indiana finished with 36 points to claim the team title, while Drury finished second with 57 points. Bellarmine was third at 91.

Senior Steven Busch was second among the Drury runners, finishing seventh overall in 25:18. Sophomore James Duncan finished eighth in 25:22. Seniors Robert Bibens and Chris Yates completed the scoring for the Panthers, finishing 20th and 21st, respectively.

Zapatero and the Panthers will next compete in the NCAA-II Regional on November 20 in Louisville, Ky.