No. 1 Malone and No. 2 Southern Oregon Control NAIA Men’s Cross Country Coaches’ Poll
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – No. 1 Malone (Ohio) and No. 2 Southern Oregon were two of three teams to maintain rank in the second edition of the NAIA Men’s Cross Country Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Wednesday. The Pioneers were awarded 14 first-place votes to total 674 points. Southern Oregon also brought in eight first-place nods for 667 points. Third-ranked Wayland Baptist (Texas) became the only other team in 2010 to earn first-place votes with two and registered 629 points. Rounding out the top-five teams are No. 4 Shawnee State (Ohio) (608 points) and No. 5 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (596 points).
Outside of the top-two holding onto rank, Cedarville (Ohio) held steady at No. 23. Thirteen teams took a setback in the poll. Dakota State’s (S.D.) fall from No. 17 to 22 was the largest drop, while No. 14 Eastern Oregon, No. 17 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) and No. 24 Southwestern (Kan.) each moved back three spots. A nine-spot upward move by No. 16 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) marked the biggest improvement among the six teams that improved rank.
A trio of previously unranked squads garnered national rank this week. Newly ranked teams include No. 12 Graceland (Iowa), No. 21 Vanguard (Calif.) and No. 25 California Baptist. Falling out of the poll are previously ranked No. 16 McKendree (Ill.), No. 22 Concordia (Ore.) and No. 24 Westmont (Calif.).
Fifteen conferences and independents were recognized in the Top 25, led by the Golden State Athletic Conference’s four ranked teams. Representing the GSAC are No. 7 The Master’s (Calif.), Azusa Pacific, Vanguard and California Baptist. The Association of Independent Institutions, Cascade Collegiate Conference and Sooner Athletic Conference each boast three ranked squads. The American Mideast Conference also has a ranked duo.
The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences, independents and unaffiliated groups. The next poll of the 2010 season will be released on Sept. 29.
| RANK | LAST WEEK | SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES) | TOTAL POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Malone University (Ohio) (14) | 674 |
| 2 | 2 | Southern Oregon University (8) | 667 |
| 3 | 7 | Wayland Baptist University (Texas) (2) | 629 |
| 4 | 3 | Shawnee State University (Ohio) | 608 |
| 5 | 4 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.) | 596 |
| 6 | 5 | University of British Columbia | 556 |
| 7 | 10 | The Master’s College (Calif.) | 528 |
| 8 | 6 | Aquinas College (Mich.) | 512 |
| 9 | 8 | Concordia University (Neb.) | 501 |
| 10 | 8 | College of Idaho | 481 |
| 11 | 12 | California State University-San Marcos | 439 |
| 12 | RV | Graceland University (Iowa) | 398 |
| 13 | 15 | Shorter University (Ga.) | 385 |
| 14 | 11 | Eastern Oregon University | 377 |
| 15 | 13 | Oklahoma Christian University | 374 |
| 16 | 25 | Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) | 344 |
| 17 | 14 | Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) | 342 |
| 18 | 17 | Simon Fraser University (B.C.) | 305 |
| 19 | 20 | Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) | 274 |
| 20 | 19 | Oklahoma Baptist University | 264 |
| 21 | NR | Vanguard University (Calif.) | 248 |
| 22 | 17 | Dakota State University (S.D.) | 206 |
| 23 | 23 | Cedarville University (Ohio) | 205 |
| 24 | 21 | Southwestern College (Kan.) | 184 |
| 25 | RV | California Baptist University | 178 |
Others receiving votes: University of St. Francis (Ill.) 124; Concordia University (Ore.) 121; McKendree University (Ill.) 113; Siena Heights University (Mich.) 71; Indiana Wesleyan University 58; Black Hills State University (S.D.) 57; Westmont College (Calif.) 54; University of Great Falls (Mont.) 39; Cornerstone University (Mich.) 14; Dordt College (Iowa) 6; Walsh University (Ohio) 5; Park University (Mo.) 3; Mount Mercy University (Iowa) 1; Morningside College (Iowa) 1; McPherson College (Kan.) 1; Marian University (Ind.) 1.
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Biola Remains Unanimous No. 1 in NAIA Women’s Cross Country Coaches’ Poll
No. 15 Aquinas and No. 16 Friends jump up six spots in the poll
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the second consecutive week, Biola (Calif.) was unanimously named the No. 1 team in the second edition of the NAIA Women’s Cross Country Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, the NAIA announced Wednesday. The Eagles were awarded all 24 possible first-place votes to tally 684 points. Biola was the only team to hold on to its rank from last week as the remaining 24 teams shifted rank. Azusa Pacific (Calif.) moved up one spot to No. 2 with 661 points and is followed by No. 3 Malone (Ohio) (640 points), No. 4 Concordia (Ore.) (605 points) and No. 5 College of Idaho (577 points).
Movement up in the poll was awarded to 15 teams. No. 15 Aquinas (Mich.) and No. 16 Friends (Kan.) both jumped up six spots as the week’s biggest movers, followed by a five-spot climb by No. 9 Kansas Wesleyan and No. 13 Morningside. Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) suffered the largest setback, dropping three from No. 16 to 19.
After receiving votes last week, four teams garner national ranking: No. 11 Southern Oregon, No. 12 Wayland Baptist (Texas), No. 17 Westmont (Calif.) and No. 24 Northwest Christian (Ore.). Carroll (Mont.), who was previously not receiving votes, checks in at No. 25. Previously ranked No. 15 Concordia (Calif.) and No. 17 Spring Arbor (Mich.) fell out of the rankings.
Fourteen conferences are represented among the Top 25. The Cascade Collegiate Conference leads all leagues with five ranked squads: Concordia (Ore.), College of Idaho, Southern Oregon, No. 14 Eastern Oregon and Northwest Christian. Biola, Azusa Pacific, No. 7 Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) and Westmont represent the Golden State Athletic Conference. Four conferences have a pair of ranked teams.
The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences, independents and unaffiliated groups. The next poll of the 2010 season will be released on Sept. 29.
| RANK | LAST WEEK | SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES) | TOTAL POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Biola University (Calif.) (24) | 684 |
| 2 | 3 | Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) | 661 |
| 3 | 5 | Malone University (Ohio) | 640 |
| 4 | 8 | Concordia University (Ore.) | 605 |
| 5 | 6 | College of Idaho | 577 |
| 6 | 9 | Milligan College (Tenn.) | 573 |
| 7 | 9 | Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) | 544 |
| 8 | 11 | Black Hills State University (S.D.) | 527 |
| 9 | 14 | Kansas Wesleyan University | 511 |
| 10 | 12 | Concordia University (Neb.) | 473 |
| 11 | RV | Southern Oregon University | 460 |
| 12 | RV | Wayland Baptist University (Texas) | 380 |
| 13 | 18 | Morningside College (Iowa) | 371 |
| 14 | 13 | Eastern Oregon University | 361 |
| 15 | 21 | Aquinas College (Mich.) | 346 |
| 16 | 22 | Friends University (Kan.) | 336 |
| 17 | RV | Westmont College (Calif.) | 332 |
| 18 | 20 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.) | 331 |
| 19 | 16 | Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) | 324 |
| 20 | 19 | Indiana Wesleyan University | 311 |
| 21 | 24 | Cedarville University (Ohio) | 300 |
| 22 | 23 | Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) | 247 |
| 23 | 25 | Lee University (Tenn.) | 164 |
| 24 | RV | Northwest Christian University (Ore.) | 147 |
| 25 | NR | Carroll College (Mont.) | 146 |
Others receiving votes: Baker University (Kan.) 93; Southwestern College (Kan.) 85; Shawnee State University (Ohio) 81; Shorter University (Ga.) 73; Northwestern College (Iowa) 63; Oklahoma Baptist University 51; Concordia University (Calif.) 34; Rocky Mountain College (Mont.) 26; Spring Arbor University (Mich.) 25; Minot State University (N.D.) 15; SCAD Savannah (Ga.) 12; University of St. Francis (Ill.) 11; Vanguard University (Calif.) 10; University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) 8; Park University (Mo.) 6; Siena Heights University (Mich.) 1; Dordt College (Iowa) 1.
