MASON, Ohio — La Verne cross country runner Bryan Hayes finished 182^nd among a field of 280 competitors in the men's race and Andrea Ramirez came in 156^th in the women's competition at the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championships, hosted by Wilimington, on Saturday.

Making his third national championship appearance in as many years, Hayes had to overcome an inauspicious start and could not quite improve upon his program-best 67^th place finish from last season. The junior fell to the ground about 300 meters into the race and had to work his way back from last place. He finished the cross line in 25 minutes, 47.3 seconds.

Ramirez closes the book on her cross country career after a breakout season. The senior emerged as one of the best runners in the West region and earned a bid to the national championship for the first and final time. She finished the six-kilometer race in 23:37.7.

Amy Regan (20:51.9) of the Stevens Institute claimed the women's individual championship while Johns Hopkins was crowned the women's team champion.

North Central won the men's team championship and Grant Wintheiser of St. Olaf earned the individual championship with a time of 23:44.9.