[ By STEVE CARPENTER ]

[ HCC Sports Information ]

STERLING, Kan. – The Hutchinson Community College men’s cross country team had five runners place in the Top 11 on Saturday as the Blue Dragons won the team championship of the 2016 Sterling College Warrior Fest at the Sterling Country Club.

Its the first team championship for Coach Justin Riggs since he took over the program last season.

Hutchinson won its first team championship since winning the Blue Dragon Invitational in 2012.

The Blue Dragons edged McPherson College for the men’s team title 27-38. Sterling College was third in the team standings.

Blue Dragon freshman Victor Pedraza won the men’s individual championship to lead Hutchinson on Saturday. Pedraza dominated the field, winning with a time of 26 minutes, 21.9 seconds. Pedraza’s winning margin over second-place Julio Martinez of Bethel was 25.8 seconds.

Freshman Jeremy Stiebens was the second Blue Dragon across the finish line. He placed sixth overall with a time of 27:16.4. Freshman Manny Gonzalez was eighth overall with a time of 27:18.8. Sophomore Ethan Artzer was ninth in 27:19.4. Sophomore Hunter Nance also figured into the scoring, placing 11th in a time of 27:23.5.

All seven Blue Dragons to run on Saturday placed in the Top 20.

Freshman Chris Gilliam placed 15th in a time of 28:05.4. Freshman Hunter Thissen was 19th in 28:57.7

The Blue Dragons will next run at the Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree on Sept. 24 in Stillwater, Okla.