(Peru, Neb.) – After not having a program for nearly 35 years, the Peru State men's cross country program was brought back to life by College officials.
 
The College hired James Cole, a former club runner and graduate of Peru State, to coach both the men's and women's program. In addition, Peru State hired Jim Thurman from Nebraska City to assist coach with both programs.
 
With a late start in recruiting, Cole and Thurman were able to put together a team for the 2020 season and unfortunately, were impacted, too, by the coronavirus. However, the team was able to get off the ground and competed in five meets in their first season.


The first meet for the squad was the Dean White Invitational in Crete which was hosted by Doane on September 26. The Bobcats finished sixth out of the full teams competing. Noah Temme (Fairmont) was the team's leading finisher as he was 58th in a time of 35:31.2. Edwin Quinones (Loiza, Puerto Rico) was 62nd in a time of 37:00.1.
 
In their largest meet of the year, the NAIA Seminole Valley Stampede which was hosted by Mount Mercy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Peru State finished 25th out of the full competing teams. Quinones was the Bobcats' top placer as he was 207th overall in a time of 34:44.8. Alan Simpson (Powhattan, Kan.) was 214th in a time of 35:58.4.
 
The Maple Leaf Invite, hosted by Baker in Baldwin City, Kan., produced several season best times for the men's team. While the team finished fifth, Brandon Fenner (Charleston, Ark.), who also was a member of the men's basketball team, led the team as he finished 30th in a time of 31:48.77. Quinones finished 36th in a time of 33:40.31.


 A week later, the team competed in the Mount Marty Invite in Yankton, S.D., where they found themselves running in the snow and sleet with cold temperatures. Fenner again led the team in a time of 31:30.04 which was 121st. Temme was the squad's second-best finisher as he was 131st in 32:48.37. As a team, the Bobcats were 13th out of the full competing teams.
 
In the final meet of the year – the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) Championship which was competed in Baldwin City, Kan., and hosted by Baker, the team did get a morale victory as they topped one team to finish 13th in the final team scores. Fenner was Peru State's top runner finishing 85th in a time of 33:24.22. Quinones was the Bobcats' second-fastest finisher as he was 94th in 34:43.50.
 
Most of the individual season-best performances came in the coldest conditions of the year in the Mount Marty Invite. In fact, the top six individuals all ran their best time of the year in Yankton. The top times for the runners were as follows: Fenner – 31:30.0, Temme – 32:48.4, Quinones – 33:08.9, Simpson – 34:45.9, Jeffrey Hart (Elkhorn) – 37:32.4, Andrew Black Elk (Rushville) – 39:12.1. Austin Eads (Falls City) ran his best time in the Seminole Valley meet which was 39:44.1.
 
Cole presented several awards at an end-of-the-year gathering at Table Creek in Nebraska City. Quinones was awarded the most valuable runner award with Simpson earning the honorable mention. Cole noted Simpson was one who competed in all of the meets and hardly missed any practices.
 
Hart was presented with the most improved award with Quinones and Black Elk getting consideration for honorable mention.
 
Cole and Thurman are busy recruiting as they will be replacing several runners from the 2020 team as they anticipate five returning.