TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Drake University senior Reed Fischer (Minnetonka, Minn.) completed his remarkable cross country season with a 50^th place finish at the NCAA Championships on Nov. 19 in Terre Haute, Ind.
 
Fischer, the reigning Missouri Valley Conference champion, completed the challenging 10-kilometer course in 30:33.4. The 251-runner field faced cool conditions and steady 20 mph winds with gusts of 40 mph.
 
"Reed ran a fantastic race, he got stuck near the back at the start, but didn't lose faith and moved up well throughout the race," said Drake head coach Dan Hostager. "While he's disappointed in just missing out on All-America honors, a top-50 finish in this deep field is truly amazing. Most years, his time would have been in the top-20 which is a testament to how deep and talented the field was this year."
 
Saturday's NCAA Championship performance comes just eight days after Fischer finished seventh in his first 10k of the season at the NCAA Midwest Regional. Prior to that, he became the 13^th Drake Bulldog to win the MVC Championship. Additionally, Fischer was named the MVC Elite 18 Award winner and has been recognized as the MVC Cross Country Athlete of the Week three times this season and the MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week twice.
 
"This caps a fantastic fall season and I know he's already looking forward to leaving his mark on the upcoming track season," Hostager added. "He beat some very talented runners and All-Americans who had beaten him earlier in the year."
 
With the conclusion of the cross country season, Fischer will turn his attention to the indoor track season set to begin in early December for members of the Drake track and field teams.