Davis, Grillot and Murphy Make HCAC Watch List for DC Harriers

GREENVILLE, Ind. – After a solid 2012 fall campaign, the Defiance College men's cross country team has been selected to finish fourth in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference in 2013. A trio of seniors in Joe Davis, Adam Grillot and Madison Murphy will be the leaders of the squad and were named to the HCAC Player to Watch List.

Davis is the top returner for the Jackets, after making First-Team All-HCAC as a junior. The Ontario, Ohio native finished in the top-two runners on the team in all six events and first in four. Davis also crossed the finish line in the top-four overall in four meets. His personal-best time came on October 12 at the Wilmington Fall Classic, when he clocked in a 26:04.5. This is Davis's second-consecutive season making the watch list.

Making the HCAC Player to Watch List for the first time is Grillot. The Houston High product made large strides in his second season with the Purple and Gold cross country runners. He set a new career mark with a time of 29:02.9 at Wilmington. Grillot also improved with each meet, as he went from finishing eighth on the team in the first individual meet to taking fifth of the DC runners at the conference championships. The Houston, Ohio native succeeded in the classroom as well and earned HCAC Academic All-Conference.

Rounding out the watch list was Murphy, who was also a first-time selection. The Worthington, Ohio native came through with a solid 2012 campaign, after finishing among the top-three Yellow Jackets on four occasions. Along with Davis and Grillot, Murphy's personal-best run came at the Wilmington Fall Classic when he registered a time of 27.15.7. He also notched a pair of top-10 overall finishes on the season.

As for the DC squad in 2012, its fourth-place finish at the HCAC Championships was the highest since 2001. It marked the fourth-consecutive year the Purple and Gold placed in the top five.

For the HCAC men's cross country poll, Defiance earned a total of 70 points for a projected fourth-place finish in the conference. Ahead of the Purple and Gold were reigning champion Manchester with 99 points, Rose-Hulman in second with 89 and third-place Franklin at 81 points. Being selected fifth just behind the Jackets was Bluffton with 57.

DC will open the 2013 season at the Manchester-Hokum Karem meet on August 31 in North Manchester, Ind. The meet is scheduled for 10:00 AM.