HAAC News
Wed, Oct 7, 2009 - [Men's Cross Country] - Viewed 1068 times
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The shuffling of seven top-10 teams created a ripple effect throughout the fourth edition of the NAIA Men's Cross Country Coaches' Top 25. Through it all, Malone (Ohio) stayed put at No. 1, the NAIA announced Wednesday. The Pioneers shared three first-place votes, gathering 20-of-23 possible nods. Southern Oregon University is ranked second, followed by No. 3 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.), No. 4 Concordia University (Neb.) and No. 5 University of British Columbia to round out the top five.

Wednesday's poll saw a total of 22 squads change position from the Sept. 30 poll. Malone, British Columbia and No. 10 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) were the only teams to remain unchanged.

A trio of teams swap spots from ranked to unranked. After receiving votes last week, Eastern Oregon checks in at No. 21, followed in line by No. 22 Black Hills State (S.D.) and No. 23 Westmont (Calif.). These programs replace Azusa Pacific (Calif.), Dakota State (S.D.) and Southwestern (Kan.), who have all fallen out of the ranks and are now receiving votes.

Three conferences, American Mideast Conference, Cascade Collegiate Conference and the Association of Independent Institutions, each have three teams represented in this week's national poll. Malone, No. 6 Shawnee State (Ohio) and No. 24 Cedarville (Ohio) represent the AMC, while the Cascade is visible in Southern Oregon, No. 15 College of Idaho and No. 21 Eastern Oregon. British Columbia, No. 9 California State-San Marcos and No. 13 Simon Fraser (B.C.) appear for the AII.

Ranked second and third, Southern Oregon and Embry-Riddle each jumped four spots this week, from No. 6 and 7, respectively. The Raiders tallied three first-place votes and 633 points to the Eagles 604. Concordia spent last week at No. 3, but drops a spot back to No. 4 with 565 points. British Columbia is hot on the heels of Concordia with 563 points in the No. 5 spot.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences. The next poll will be released on Oct. 14.

RANK

LAST WEEK

SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES)

TOTAL POINTS

1

1

Malone University (Ohio) (20)

648

2

6

Southern Oregon University (3)

633

3

7

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.)

604

4

3

Concordia University (Neb.)

565

5

5

University of British Columbia

563

6

9

Shawnee State University (Ohio)

556

7

2

Aquinas College (Mich.)

538

8

4

Oklahoma Christian University

500

9

8

California State University-San Marcos

488

10

10

Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.)

453

11

14

Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho)

448

12

20

McKendree University (Ill.)

413

13

12

Simon Fraser University (B.C.)

403

14

11

Cornerstone University (Mich.)

358

15

20

College of Idaho

345

16

15

Doane College (Neb.)

329

17

16

Bryan College (Tenn.)

318

18

17

Oklahoma Baptist University

297

19

18

Vanguard University (Calif.)

247

20

23

Lindenwood University (Mo.)

233

21

RV

Eastern Oregon University

211

22

RV

Black Hills State University (S.D.)

179

23

RV

Westmont College (Calif.)

171

24

3

Cedarville University (Ohio)

166

25

24

Taylor University (Ind.)

157


Others receiving votes: Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) 116; Wayland Baptist University (Texas) 97; University of Rio Grande (Ohio) 95; Dakota State University (S.D.) 85; Shorter College (Ga.) 46; Spring Arbor University (Mich.) 39; Lubbock Christian University (Texas) 38; Kansas Wesleyan University 35; Marian College (Ind.) 9; Southwestern College (Kan.) 8; Lee University (Tenn.) 7; William Woods University (Mo.) 3; The Master's College (Calif.) 1; California Baptist University 1; Milligan College (Tenn.) 1; Indiana Wesleyan University 1; Indiana Wesleyan University 1.

 

 
 
 
Avila University Baker University Benedictine College Culver-Stockton College Central Methodist University Heart of America Athletic Conference Graceland University Evangel University Heart of America Athletic Conference Evangel University Peru State College Missouri Valley College MidAmerica Nazarene University