The Concordia University cross country teams each moved up a spot in the latest NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 polls released Wednesday. The men’s squad moved up to fourth, and the women’s squad moved up to 11th.
Malone University (Ohio) was voted first in the men’s poll for a 25th straight week. The Pioneers earned 622 points and tallied 21-of-22 first-place votes. Aquinas College (Mich.) remained second with 596 points and 1 first-place vote, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.) stayed at third with 585 points. Concordia improved one spot to fourth with 542 points, and Oklahoma Christian University rounded out the top five with 532 points. Doane College moved up one spot to 14th, and the Tigers were the only other GPAC school to be selected to this week’s top 25 poll.
Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) was voted first in the women’s poll with 680 points and 20 first-place votes. California State University-San Marcos was second with 663 points and the final four first-place votes. Simon Fraser University (B.C.) was selected third with 619 points, while Biola University (Calif.) and Cedarville University (Ohio) tied for fourth with 618 points. The Concordia women were selected 11th with 464 points and were the only GPAC team selected to this week’s poll.
The Concordia men finished third at the Woody Greeno Invitational this past Saturday in Lincoln. The Bulldogs finished the day with a team score of 106. Zach Meineke crossed the line in ninth place with a time of 25:29, and he earned GPAC Runner-of-the-Week honors for a second straight week for his efforts. Dana Schmidt was 14th with a time of 25:42, and David Goeglein finished in 21st with a time of 25:56.75. Colin Morrissey (26:03) was 28th, and Tyson Billings (26:13.85) finished in 34th for the Bulldogs.
On the women’s side, Concordia finished sixth overall and third in the college division at the Woody Greeno Invitational. The Bulldogs had a team score of 183. Sarah Kortze was the top finisher for Concordia. Kortze finished in 21st overall with a time of 21:58. Jena Schwalenberg was 26th with a time of 22:18.28. Alicia Marteney (22:33) was 32nd, Ann Hershberger (22:59) was 49th and Dana Kluthe (23:05) was 55th.
Both Concordia teams will compete at the Roy Griak Invitational in Minnesota on Sept. 26.