EOU Men's Cross Country Joins Nation's Elite

Barrett Henderson

The Eastern Oregon Men's Cross Country team found themselves at the number nine spot in this week's NAIA national top 25 rating.

EOU was at number 11 last week and climbed two spots this week with a total of 153 votes. They are currently second place in Region 1 behind Lewis and Clark State, who dropped one spot to 5th this week in the national poll.

Eastern's new ranking comes after a strong showing at the Cascade Conference Preview Meet last weekend against great competition which including mostly bigger programs.

"It's great to be back there," said Coach Ben Welch on returning to the top ten. The Mountaineers last cracked the top ten in 2004, where they would eventually finish as well.

Welch continued, "The guys have worked hard, and it's great to see them recognized for it."

The road gets tougher this weekend at the Willamette University Invite as three teams ranked ahead of the Mounties will be racing; Seventh-ranked Concordia (Calif.), Fifth-ranked Lewis-Clark State (Idaho), and second-ranked Aquinas (Mich.).

Malone (Ohio) remained at the top position in the nation for the third consecutive rating. Malone also collected all seven of the first-place votes.