By Steven Wright

HANOVER, Ind. - The No. 9-ranked Ohio Northern men's cross country team finished third at the Hanover (Ind.) Invitational behind top-ten finishes from seniors Jimmy O'Brien and Paul Lewis.

O'Brien finished the 8,000 meter course in seventh for the Polar Bears in 26:33, while Lewis was only three seconds behind in ninth place.

The fourth-ranked Wisconsin-Stevens Point won the event with 40 total points, and NCAA Division II Bellarmine (Ky.) finished in second place with 78 points.

By Tim Glon

ADA — The Ohio Northern men’s cross country team is ranked No. 9 nationally in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association preseason poll.

The Polar Bears were ranked No. 10 in the final 2007 poll, then finished 17th at the NCAA III Championships last fall.

ADA - Ryan New has been named head coach for both the Cross Country and Track & Field programs at Ohio Northern.

New comes to Northern after spending the past three years as an assistant coach at Centre (Ky.) and running for the program from 2001-2004.

The 2004 graduate earned his dual degree in classical studies and history from Centre.

New was a sprinter for the Colonels, competing in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 400-meter dashes as well as the 4x100-meter and 4x400-meter relays.