Missing the top 40 by just two seconds the Penn State men's cross country team's lone representative finished strong at the NCAA Nationals held at Indiana State University yesterday.

Racing to try and capture the title of All-American junior Dan Mazzocco finshed the race in 30:23.8 a good enough time for 43rd place in a field of 253 of the best runners in the nation.

This was the third time Mazzocco has ran in the championship

In a sport where Head Coach Harry Groves preaches development Mazzoccos finish in this year's race was an improvment over his finsh as a sophomore. Last year he placed 78th coming in with a time of 32:24.1. "40th place in NCAA will make make you an All-American," Head Coach Harry Groves said before the race.

"You can't image how good you have to be to finish 40th." Fellow Big Ten member Wisconsin won the national title.

The Badgers' senior Simon Bairu won the race with a time of 29:15.9.