Brandon Mesnard is a Member of the Ashland University Men's Cross Country Team

2012 Sep 6

Brandon Mesnard of Bascom, OH is a member of the Ashland University men's cross country team.

Mesnard is majoring in economics.

He is the son of Shawn and Judy Mesnard of Bascom.

Mesnard is a 2011 graduate of Columbian High School.

The Ashland University men's cross country team competes in NCAA Division II in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Both AU cross country teams are nationally ranked entering Saturday's (Sept. 8) opener at Ohio Wesleyan.

The men's cross country team is coached by Trent Mack. Mack came to AU from Dakota State University in Sioux Falls, SD, where he served as the head coach for cross country and track and field since 2008. Under Mack's coaching in 2011-12, both cross country teams advanced to nationals. That's the first time both teams made the journey since 1995. The AU men were 13th at nationals and the AU women were 18th.

Ashland University, ranked in the top 200 colleges and universities in U.S. News and World Report's National Universities category for 2012, is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.