MISSOULA, Mont. - Freshman Ralph Rufo qualified for USAC collegiate nationals in the disciplines of Cross Country and Short Track Cross country Mountain bike racing.

The Men's Varsity Cross Country race was held at 8:30 a.m. in the morning at Marshall Mountain Ski area in Missoula, Montana on October 19th. The course featured almost 1,600 feet of elevation gain per 5.6 mile lap with three quarters of the course being a climb and the last quarter a fast descent full of technical switchbacks. Rufo finished the three laps in roughly two hours and eight minutes for a 49th-place finish out of
65 starters.

"Ralph had a great ride on Friday," Ripon Head Coach Alec Hoover said. "The course's elevation gain wasn't in Ralph's strengths as an athlete, but he was able to pace himself well up the climbs and make up time on the descent. Most athletes get overwhelmed in their first national-level competition and go out harder than they are capable of holding for two hours of racing, but Ralph was able to keep his composure and race his own race."

The Men's Varsity Short Track Cross Country Race started at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Ralph Rode to 58th place on a brutally punchy course.

"It was all smiles on the long 21-hour van ride back to Ripon," Hoover said. "Ralph raced a great effort in both races and we look forward to seeing him progress at these national-level races over the course of the next three years."