GOODELLS – Macomb Men's Cross Country, led by top four finishes out of the Penberthy twins, came in second at the MCCAA/NJCAA Region 12 Championships on Friday (Oct. 25) at Goodells County Park. The Monarchs only finished behind the defending national champion and topped 14 other association programs behind an impressive team effort.
 
The Monarchs were paced by twin brothers, Dylan Penberthy (New Haven, Mich./L'Anse Creuse North) and Brandon Penberthy (New Haven, Mich./L'Anse Creuse North) at Friday's championship as Dylan finished third overall and Brandon followed closely in fourth. Dylan came within a tenth-of-a-second of securing second place at 26:08.9, while Brandon was fourth in the loaded field at 26:15.9.
 
The outstanding day on the course led the twins to All-Region and All-MCCAA honors and helped punch the team's ticket to the NJCAA Division II National Championship in Richmond, Va., on Nov. 9.
 
Gabe Rusch (New Baltimore, Mich./Anchor Bay) checked in next at 27:15.1 on his way to All-MCCAA recognition, while Lucas Shemansky (Fraser, Mich./Fraser) crossed the finish line 31^st overall with a time of 27:59. Carson Gilbertson (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) and Jack DeWaele (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley) finished back-to-back in 35^th and 36^th place, respectively, with times of 28:11.8 and 28:16.0.
 
Daryl Winters III (Detroit, Mich./Warren Mott) was 47^th at 28:52.0 and Mathieu Fortier (Clinton Twp., Mich./Lakeview) rounded out the cast of Monarchs competing on Friday with a 53^rd place finish at 29:10.3.