COMING UP: Friday at Cascade Conference Championships, presented by U.S. Bank – Rose City Golf Course (Portland, Ore) – Men's 8,000-meters, 10 a.m.; Women's 6,000-meters, 11 a.m.
LIVE TIMING: Live Results will be available online through
Athletic Timing
WHAT'S AT STAKE: The team champion of both the men's 8,000-meter and women's 6,000-meter races will earn automatic bids to the NAIA Cross Country National Championships in Columba, Mo. (Gans Creek Cross Country Course). In addition, any athlete finishing inside the Top-15 not on a team that qualifies for the national meet, will earn an at-large entry to the NAIA Championships. It marks the second time the women's race will be conducted at the 6,000-meter distance.
HISTORY AT THE MEET: The Oregon Tech men have finished inside the Top-5 at the CCC Championships in 11 of the past 12 seasons – including a second-place effort in 2020 and third-place finishes in 2016, 2019 and 2021. The OIT women won the 2017 and 2018 CCC titles, while finishing third overall in 2015, 2016, 2020 and 2021.
MEN'S FIELD: An extremely competitive race is expected, as four of the top-five finishers from the 2023 championships have returned. College of Idaho has been the juggernaut this season – dominating fields to ascend to the No. 1 spot in the NAIA poll, behind the trio of Daniel Butler, Hayden Bostrom and Elias Everist. Justin Ash of Eastern Oregon, who placed third in the conference meet, returns for the No. 13-ranked Mountaineers, with Jack Gladfelter leading Corban. For OIT, the Owls do not have a front-runner, but rely on a tight pack, with
Bryce Worrell finishing as Tech's top finisher in each of the last three races.
WOMEN'S FIELD: Unlike last season, when C of I dominated the field en route to a national title, the CCC Championship will be much closer – as No. 10 Southern Oregon, No. 18 Lewis-Clark State and the No. 6-ranked Yotes. Only six of the 15 All-CCC picks are back, as SOU returns Alyssa Johnson and C of I returns Kahea Figueira and Molly Connor, with Evergreen State standout Alauna Carstens leading the Geoducks. OIT turns to
Charis Childers, who has paced the Lady Owls in all four regular-season races, with
Jane Kuebrich and
Corinne Childers also in the mix.
THE VENUE: For the first time, the event will be held at the Rose City Golf Course in Portland – featuring a 2,000-meter loop over rolling grass hills.
UP NEXT: Teams and individuals who qualify will compete at the NAIA Championships, set for Nov. 22, in Columbia, Mo.
