UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. – Jared Wright gave it his all finishing 98th in the field of 262 runners to represent Dominican men's cross country for the first time ever at the NCAA Cross Country Championships at Chambers Creek Regional Park.

"What an amazing field of athletes," head coach Teressa DiPerna said. "Probably the most aggressive and talented field [Jared] has experienced. He put it all out there with a great finale. It was a sloppy, messy course where tactics, experience and really getting out there puts you at the top. So thrilled for Jared and to have watched him get this far.

With snow on the course and below-freezing temperatures, Wright gave it everything he had in his final race as a Penguin. The field remained close for the first 2,000 meters as 10 seconds separated the top 100 racers. Wright found himself in the middle of the large pack as he raced along several runners from west region schools such as Chico State and Fresno Pacific. 

As Wright made the turn at the halfway point he was leading a small pack of runners from Saint Leo, Findlay and Chico State and he kept up his pace for the next 2,000 meters. Wright was unable to find that next gear down the stretch but still had enough in the tank to ensure a top-100 finish as he crossed the line in 31:16.1 and to top Cortland Ross of Illinois Springfield and Daniel Hernandez of Chico State.