Milligan, Montreat Occupy NAIA Top 25 Spots

1. The Master's (Calif.)

The Mustangs collected 13 first-place votes after winning the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational on Oct. 4, as Brogan Collins won the race in 24:35. TMU had a pair of top three finishes, as Jack Anderson finished two spots behind Collins. TMU is back in action Oct. 18 at the Higlander, in Riverside, Calif.

2. Indiana Wesleyan

IWU closed the gap on top-ranked TMU, gathering five first-place votes in this week's poll. The Wildcats won Oct. 10's Ray Bullock Invitational, at Taylor (Ind.), led by Josh Bainbridge,  Hunter Sasnich, Trenton Sweet, and Braden Sweet, who finished in a pack, fourth through seventh. IWU is off this week, back in action Oct. 25, at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge, hosted by Aquinas (Mich.).

3. Cumberlands (Ky.)

The Patriots climbed a spot this week, standing out in a loaded field at the Louisville Classic. Noah Loeser crossed the line in Louisville in 24:48, a top-20 time in program history. The Patriots will return to competition at the NAIA Appalachian Challenge on Friday, Oct. 24, in Knoxville, Tenn.

4. College of Idaho

The 2024 defending national champions made their move back into the top 10 and gained a first-place vote with a seventh-place finish at the LC State Invitational, led by Michael Altenburg's 25:57 in the 8,000-meter race. Up next for the Yotes will be the Blazing Tiger Classic in Ashland, Neb. The Blazing Tiger Classic will be the squad's last race before the CCC Championships.

5. Taylor (Ind.)

The Trojans narrowly missed second-ranked Indiana Wesleyan at the Ray Bullock Invite, getting the top two finishes in the race from seniors Luke Harber and Ryan Hankak, who finished in 25:01 and 25:05. Taylor fell seven points behind IWU, and the teams will meet again Oct. 25 at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge, hosted by Aquinas. 

6. Milligan (Tenn.)

The Buffs slid three spots, this week, after finishing third in the Firetower Project Run at Appalachian State. Bryson Lewis led Milligan in 15th place, at 24:04. The Buffs' schedule resumes Saturday (Oct. 18) at the Roanoke Cross Country Invitational in Virginia.

7. Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)

Embry-Riddle stayed at No. 7, picking up a perfect score Oct. 4 at the ACU Firestorm Invitational in Glendale, Ariz. Dillon Eisner won the race in 25:16, as the team claimed the first six spots, and 10 of the top 11. ERAU is back at it Oct. 18, in the Highlander Invitational, hosted by UC Riverside.

8. Marian (Ind.)

The Knights are back two spots from the last rating after back-to-back sixth-place finishes last week, at the Ray Bullock, hosted by Taylor, and the UAH Chargers Invitational in Alabama. Marian will join a deep field Oct. 25, at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge, hosted by Aquinas. 

9. Southern Oregon

SOU made one of the biggest jumps in this week's rating, from No. 18 to No. 9, finishing sixth at the Oct. 4 Willamette Invitational in Salem, Ore. Souther Oregon finished in front of Eastern Oregon, Trinity Western (B.C.), and Corban (Ore.), led by a top 10 finish from Mason Weisgerber, in ninth. The Raiders are back in action Saturday (Oct. 18) at the UC Riverside Highlander Invitational, in Riverside, Calif.

10. IU East (Ind.)

IU East climbs into the top 10 after spending the last rating at No. 12, showing strong at the Louisville Cross Country Classic. Mylan Nocton led Red Wolves with the best 8K time on the day in the gold race with a 25:05.3 at the E. P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park. IU East will compete Oct. 25, at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge in Grand Rapids, Mich.