Nov. 8, 2009

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Southern Oregon University is the No. 1 team in the final NAIA Men's Cross Country Coaches' Top 25 Poll of the 2009 season, the NAIA announced Sunday. The Raiders, who captured the Cascade Collegiate Conference championship on Saturday, were awarded 11 first-place votes for 612 points. Malone University (Ohio) also captured 11 first-place votes and is one point back to close out the season ranked second. Concordia University (Neb.) moves up one spot to third, followed by California State University-San Marcos at No. 4 and No. 5 Shawnee State University (Ohio.).

Twenty teams that were previously ranked among the Top 25 in the Nov. 4 poll changed rank following postseason national qualifying meets over the weekend. Top-ranked Southern Oregon, No. 2 Malone and No. 9 Bryan (Tenn.) were the only squads to maintain their rank.

A pair of teams, No. 12 Cornerstone (Mich.) and No. 23 Southwestern (Kan.) move into the Top 25 after their performances at their respective meets. Cornerstone makes the jump from previously receiving votes to No. 12 after winning the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference meet on Saturday. The Golden Eagles tallied 42 points to runner-up Aquinas' 44. Previously ranked third, Aquinas plummets 12 spots to No. 15 in the final poll. Southwestern was also receiving votes in the Nov. 4 poll, but cracks into the Top 25 after taking the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference crown with 30 points.

Sooner Athletic Conference champion Oklahoma Christian improves 12 spots on the poll, moving from No. 23 to 11. Also on the up is Simon Fraser (B.C.), the Association of Independent Institutions runner-up, as The Clan jumps five spots to No. 7 after entering Saturday's race ranked 12th. British Columbia's third-place finish at the AII meet pushed the Thunderbirds back five positions to 10th. Black Hills State's runner-up performance at the Dakota Athletic Conference dropped the then-No. 14 Yellow Jackets to No. 25 in the final poll.

The Cascade Collegiate Conference leads all conferences with four ranked teams: Southern Oregon, No. 8 College of Idaho, No. 18 Eastern Oregon and No. 24 Concordia (Ore.). The American Mideast Conference and Association of Independent Institutions each boast a trio of nationally ranked squads. Malone leads the way in the AMC, followed by Shawnee State and No. 20 Cedarville (Ohio). Representing the AII is California State-San Marcos, Simon Fraser and British Columbia.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences. To view all of the weekend's results from postseason national qualifying meets, please click here. National Championship teams and individual qualifiers will be announced on Monday by 5 p.m. CST. The 53rd Annual NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championships will take place at Fort Vancouver Historic Site in Vancouver, Wash., on Nov. 21.

Others receiving votes: California Baptist University 134; Doane College (Neb.) 113; Kansas Wesleyan University 94; Marian University (Ind.) 49; Lindenwood University (Mo.) 44; Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) 26; Lee University (Tenn.) 19; Taylor University (Ind.) 9; Vanguard University (Calif.) 5; University of Rio Grande (Ohio) 4; Lubbock Christian University (Texas) 4; Siena Heights University (Mich.) 1; Saint Ambrose University (Iowa) 1; William Woods University (Mo.) 1; Dana College (Neb.) 1.