Oct. 24, 2008

· Men’s Cross Country Weekly Report # 4 ·

The Top 20 in this week’s NAIA Men’s Cross Country Coaches’ Top 25 Poll was identical to last week’s.  In fact, the only change to the Top 25 was a bit of flip-flopping in spots 21-24.   Shawnee State (Ohio) and Simon Fraser (B.C.) switched spots, coming in at No. 21 and No. 22 respectively.  Oklahoma Baptist and Dickinson State (N.D.) also flipped spots this week, moving from No. 23 to No. 24 and vice versa. 

· Men’s Cross Country News and Notes ·

·          With both No. 1 Malone (Ohio) and No. 2 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) idle over the past week, No. 3 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) was the highest ranked team to compete.  The Eagles ran at the Stetson Invitational on Friday, Oct. 17 in Deland, Fla.  The team won the event, their fifth team title in six races this season.

·          Xavier (La.) freshman Ray Walston set a new school record on Saturday, Oct. 18 at the Choctaw Open cross country meet at Choctaw Trails.  Walston ran four miles in a time of 21:24.37, breaking the school record by over a minute.  That effort was good enough for him to finish ninth out 55.  Xavier finished third in team scoring.

· Women’s Cross Country Weekly Report # 4 ·

Azusa Pacific (Calif.) kept their hold on the No. 1 spot in this week’s NAIA Women’s Cross Country Coaches’ Top 25 Poll.  The Cougars received 16 first-place votes and 557 total points to stay on top.  Two new teams entered the Top 25 this week after receiving votes in the previous poll.  Concordia (Ore.) came in at No. 21 while Hastings (Neb.) checked in at No. 25.

· Women’s Cross Country News and Notes ·

·          Xavier (La.) junior Ebony Harding broke yet another school record.  At the Choctaw Open cross country meet at Choctaw Trails on Oct. 18, Harding ran the 5,000 meters in a time of 20:12.48, finishing seventh.  Harding broke the school record in the 6,000 meters a week earlier.

·          It ought to be a competitive race this weekend at the Biola Invitational.  Several ranked teams will be running at the event, including No. 5 Concordia (Calif.), No. 6 Biola (Calif.), No. 20 Westmont (Calif.) and Vanguard (Calif.), who is receiving votes in this week’s poll.