KANSAS CITY, MO. (Nov. 19, 2024) - The final field for the 69th annual NAIA Men's Cross-Country National Championship has been released, as 36 teams and 80 individuals have qualified. The field will prepare to race on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. CT at the Columbia, Mo., Gans Creek Cross Country Course. 

The men will run the 8000m.

Head Coach Brett Charlton commented, "The men have been competitive every meet they ran in all season. They've been looking forward to this opportunity since August. They're definitely ready to peak at nationals."

The men's cross-country team, a testament to unity and teamwork, won its ninth Red River Athletic Conference title. Senior Joseph Gonzalez was the runner-up with a time of 26:19. Sabastian Moreno came in fourth with a time of 26:51. In fifth place was Isai Moran with a time of 27:17. In sixth was Jayden Turrubiates with a time of 27:25. Seventh place finisher was Jose Saucedo with a time of 27:42, followed by Kruz Malesich in eighth place with a time of 27:49 and Tony Favella in ninth place with a time of 28:01. All were named to the All-Conference team, and all will compete at nationals. Also qualifying is JoseCarlos Hernandez, who finished with a time of 31:04.

The men's cross-country team has etched its name in OLLU history with a string of impressive achievements. The men's program finished seventh in 2010 and fourth in 2011 and 2012. In 2013, the Saints came in third, and in 2014, second. From 2015 through 2024, the Saints captured the conference title; however, the team was disqualified in 2022.  

Five Saints captured the individual title: Jose Zarate in 2021 and March 2021 (COVID-19 Season), Nathaniel Aguilar in 2018, Andrew Moczygemba in 2017, and Nathaniel Rodriguez in 2018. 

Qualifier Notes

• 2024's championship will be the first to take place in Columbia, Mo.
• This year's field comprises 22 automatic qualifiers and 14 at-large berths. A team may qualify with an automatic berth by winning its conference championship meet or as the runner-up in the championship meet provided the conference has 12 or more schools, and the runner-up is rated in the top 30 of the final NAIA Men's Cross Country rating, which is found HERE
• The 14 at-large berths were determined by the final NAIA Men's Cross-Country rating and reviewed by the NAIA Men's Cross-Country Oversight Committee.
• In addition to the team qualifiers, 80 individuals qualified for the championship based on their scoring finish at their respective conference meet. 
• The Crossroads League boasts the highest number of team qualifiers in the 2024 field with five teams: Grace (Ind.), Indiana Wesleyan, Marian (Ind.), Taylor (Ind.), and Spring Arbor (Mich.).
• The 2024 NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championship is broadcast FREE on the NAIA Channel of the Urban Edge Network and the newly redesigned NAIA Network for both the men's and women's races at the final site in Columbia, Mo. For more information and to pre-register, click HERE.