The Concordia University men’s cross country team remained ranked fifth, and the women’s cross country team moved up to 12th in the latest NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Cross Country polls released on Wednesday.
For the 24th consecutive week, Malone University (Ohio) was voted first in the men’s poll. The Pioneers received all 22 possible first-place votes and earned 622 points. Rounding out the top five was No. 2 Aquinas College (594), No. 3 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (585), No. 4 Simon Fraser University (555) and Concordia in fifth with 542 points.
Leaping five spots from the preseason poll (Aug. 26), California State University-San Marcos claimed the No. 1 spot in the women’s poll. The Cougars captured 14-of-23 possible first-place votes for an overwhelming 643 points. Biola University (Calif.) and Cedarville University (Ohio) tied for second with 613 points, while Simon Fraser University (607) and Azusa Pacific University (574) rounded out the top five. The Concordia women were ranked 14th in the preseason poll, but earned the No. 12 ranking in this week’s poll with 404 points.
Both Concordia cross country teams won the Sioux Falls Invitational this past weekend. Six runners finished in the top 10 for the Concordia men, and four runners finished in the top 10 for the Concordia women. Zach Meineke and Sarah Kortze earned Hauff Mid-America Sports/GPAC Runner of the Week honors for their efforts in the Sioux Falls Invite. Meineke won the meet, while Kortze finished second to an unattached runner in her first-ever collegiate meet.
The Concordia men and women will take part in the Woody Greeno Invite on Sept. 19. The meet is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at Pioneer Park in Lincoln.