Orange City, Iowa — The Northwestern College men’s cross country team earned an at-large bid and qualified for the the NAIA National Championship announced by the national office Monday. The 65th annual men’s championship will take place on April 9 and held at the Seminole Valley Cross Country course in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Ranked 17th in the final coaches’ poll released earlier this week, Northwestern received one of the 10 at-large bids into the 36-team, 96-individual championship field. The Raiders finished second at the 2020 GPAC Championship last fall and are one of three conference teams in the field, joining Dordt and Doane.
Northwestern will be making its 13th appearance as a complete team at the NAIA Championship and first since the 2017 season, the final of four straight qualifying teams. The Raiders best finish was in 2016 where they placed sixth. Northwestern has sent individuals to compete at nationals 11 seasons, including the last two (Joshua Starr – 2019, Dylan Hendrick and Caleb Benzing – 2018).
The Raiders are coached by Carrie Krohn and Scott Bahrke.
