For the first time in program history, the Bruins sent two men to the NAIA National Cross Country Championships held Friday on the grounds of Fort Vancouver National Historic site in Vancouver, Wash. Rain over the previous 24 hours created slick and muddy conditions on race day but fortunately, the rain stopped by race time and the event was run under cloudy skies with a temperature around 50 degrees.

Freshman Peyton Anthony got his first taste of championship competition in a deep field of 330 runners crossing the line in a time of 27:41.5 good for 213th place. Senior Chris Casart, a member of the cross country team since its inception four years ago, represented the Bruins in his final cross country race as a Bruin. His time of 28:47.4 placed him 296th.

Milligan University of Tennessee swept both the men's and women's titles. Oklahoma City's Zouhair Talbi took the men's individual title running 24:43.

Head Coach Craig Christians: "I was proud of the way Chris and Peyton competed today. This meet is unlike anything we experience during the season and they were up to the challenge. They have paved the way for future Bruin men and now that we've had some individuals qualify, the next step in the program will be to qualify the entire team. Maybe next November we will all be going to Tallahassee (site of the 2022 championships)."

The Bruin distance team will take a short break before beginning the indoor track season in January.