HIGHLAND HILLS, Ohio — Senior Tyler Jasud of Rumford finished 22nd out of an elite field of 276 runners at the 2009 NCAA Division III Men’s Cross Country National Championship to become the first ever All-American for the University of Southern Maine Huskies men’s cross country program.

Jasud, who has been the Huskies top runner the last two seasons, covered the eight-kilometer course in a time of 25 minutes, 58.1 seconds. The race was hosted by Baldwin-Wallace College at the Highland Hills Golf Course in Highland Hills, Ohio on Saturday afternoon.

“I’m am very proud and excited for Tyler,” said USM men’s cross country coach Scott Hutchinson. “He ran the race of his life and was able to achieve his goal. It is a tremendous achievement that he has earned through his hard work.”

Finishing in the top 35 of the race, Jasud earns All-American honors from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA). Jasud has earned numerous honors in his career, including being named the 2008 Little East Conference of the Year, and now holds the distinction of Southern Maine’s first ever men’s cross country All-American.

Jasud was one of just 56 individual runners selected to participate in the National Championship race. Jasud earned his second consecutive bid to the NCAA National Championship by finishing 16th out of 323 runners at the NCAA Division III New England Regional Men’s Cross Country Championship that was hosted by Southern Maine last weekend. Jasud earned the 16th place finish in muddy and rainy conditions in a time of 25 minutes, 49.0 seconds.

In Jasud’s 2008 national championship race, he finished just seconds outside of All-American honors but posted a top 100 finish, placing 43rd out of the 278 finishers in a time of 25 minutes, 5.35 seconds.