Oregon Institute of Technology Athletics

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Both Oregon Tech cross country teams moved up in the final NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Polls and consequently both earned an at large berth into NAIA Men's and Women's Cross Country National Championship that will be held on November 19. The event will take place in Vancouver, Wash.
 
The Oregon Tech men moved up from No.15 to No. 14 in the men's coaches' poll while the OIT women went from not rated to No. 23 this week after strong 3^rd place finishes by both teams in the Cascade Collegiate Conference XC Championships held last week at the Running Y Ranch in Klamath Falls, Ore.
 
"The men and women ran well enough at conference to earn the at large bids," said head coach Jack Kegg. "Now we will try to step it up and see how high we can place on the national stage.  This is not our first rodeo and we have a large number of experienced athletes with high goals and dreams to fulfill. Running in our own region on a known course is a great opportunity for the athletes to shine."
 
The Cascade Collegiate Conference – which hosts the 2021 NAIA Championship Meet – saw seven teams qualify for the event. Bushnell University picked up the host berth, while No. 10-ranked College of Idaho secured the automatic qualifier after winning the CCC Championship last week. No. 21 ranked Eastern Oregon University, No. 12 ranked Lewis-Clark State College, No. 25 ranked Northwest University, No. 14 ranked Oregon Tech, and No. 17 ranked Southern Oregon University all received at large berths.
 
The CCC saw five teams qualify for the event, along with three individuals. Multnomah University picked up the host berth, while No. 6 ranked College of Idaho secured the automatic qualifier after winning the CCC Championship last week. Lewis-Clark State College (which is receiving votes in the latest national poll), No. 23 ranked Oregon Tech, and No. 13 Southern Oregon University all earned at-large berths.