Southern Oregon and Cal State San Marcos will defend titles

Nov. 7, 2011

Contact: Amanda Dahl, Manager of Sports Information & Media Services, adahl@naia.org

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) released the team and individual qualifiers for the 2011 NAIA Men’s and Women’s Cross Country National Championships on Monday. The 56th Annual Men’s and 32nd Annual Women’s event will take place at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in Vancouver, Wash., on Nov. 19. The men’s 8K championship race will start at 10:30 a.m. PST, followed by the women’s 5K run at 11:45 a.m.

After winning its first-ever national championship, Southern Oregon is aiming for a second title. Armed with the reigning individual titlist, Kennedy Kithuka, Wayland Baptist (Texas) will look to take home its first banner after a runner-up finish last year. Oklahoma Christian’s Silas Kisorio won the title in 2009 and will be running alongside Kithuka, racing to the finish line. 

The 32-team men’s field features 21 conference/independent/unaffiliated group champions, one conference/independent/unaffiliated group runner-up and nine at-large selections. Concordia (Ore.) received a host berth to the event. There are also 100 individual qualifiers. 

Cal State San Marcos will take a run at winning its third-straight women’s national title, while two-time runner-up Biola (Calif.) eyes a shot at taking home the banner for the first time in program history. Eastern Oregon sophomore Karlee Coffee, the 2010 NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championship runner-up, will be looking for her first individual title with the field wide open. 

The 32-team women’s field features 22 conference/independent/unaffiliated group champions, one conference/independent/unaffiliated group runner-up and eight at-large selections. Concordia received a host berth to the event. There are also 105 individual qualifiers.

2011 NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championships
Team Qualifiers
School Qualification
Aquinas (Mich.) Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference champion
Baker (Kan.) Heart of America Athletic Conference champion
Berea (Ky.) Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion
Biola (Calif.) At-Large
British Columbia At-Large
Bryan (Tenn.) Appalachian Athletic Conference champion champion
Cal State San Marcos Association of Independent Institutions champion
College of Idaho At-Large
Concordia (Ore.) Host Berth
Dordt (Iowa) Great Plains Athletic Conference champion
Eastern Oregon At-Large
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) The Sun Conference champion
Friends (Kan.) Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference champion
Huntington (Ind.) Mid-Central College Conference champion
Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) Unaffiliated Group - Independent/Frontier champion
Mount Mercy (Iowa) Midwest Collegiate Conference champion
Oklahoma Baptist At-Large
Oklahoma Christian Sooner Athletic Conference champion
Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference runner-up
Park (Mo.) Unaffiliated Group - American Mideast/American Midwest/TranSouth champion
Shawnee State (Ohio) Mid-South Conference champion
Shorter (Ga.) Southern States Athletic Conference champion
Siena Heights (Mich.) At-Large
Southern Oregon Cascade Collegiate Conference champion
Southwestern (Kan.) At-Large
Southwestern Christian (Okla.) Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference champion
St. Francis (Ill.) Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference champion
Texas Wesleyan Red River Athletic Conference champion
The Master's (Calif.) Golden State Athletic Conference champion
Wayland Baptist (Texas) At-Large
Westmont (Calif.) At-Large
Xavier (La.) Gulf Coast Athletic Conference champion2011 NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championships
Individual Qualifiers
Appalachian Athletic Conference
Austin Ellis Milligan (Tenn.) mlaws@milligan.edu
Nathan Meeuwenberg Milligan (Tenn.)
Matt Murphy Milligan (Tenn.)
Hilary Cheruiyot Tennessee Wesleyan jharrison@twcnet.edu
Brendan Hawkins Milligan (Tenn.)
Association of Independent Institutions
Andy Coy Dakota State (S.D) nick.huntimer@dsu.edu
Nicholas Spector Soka (Calif.) Jpaik@soka.edu
Matt Fideler Dakota State (S.D)
Brooks Swigert Arizona Christian steve.schwepker@arizonachristian.edu
California Pacific Conference 
Fernando Diaz Holy Names (Calif.) thuer@hnu.edu
Tony Moore Simpson (Calif.) dpringle@simpsonu.edu
Zachary Holt Holy Names (Calif.)
Cascade Collegiate Conference
Seth Bridges Northwest (Wash.) al.kawashima@northwestu.edu
Scott Minor Oregon Tech michael.garrard@oit.edu
Matt Porter Northwest (Wash.)
Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
Juan Carlos Barrera Robert Morris (Ill.) tczop@robertmorris.edu
Austin Warner Trinity Christian (Ill.) amy.strong@trnty.edu
Brian Corcoran Saint Xavier (Ill.) huizenga@sxu.edu
Andrew Reidsma Trinity Christian (Ill.)
Zach Gates Illinois Tech bornste@iit.edu
Matt Rychel Saint Xavier (Ill.)
Nate Nevius Judson (Ill.) aledyard@judsonu.eduGolden State Athletic Conference
Rick Avila Concordia (Calif.) brian.gaul@cui.edu
Wade Meddles Azusa Pacific (Calif.) jreinsch@apu.edu
William MacNeil Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) jorgedelatorre@pointloma.edu
Cameron Barela Vanguard (Calif.) brenkoski@vanguard.edu
Kyle Russell Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.)
Great Plains Athletic Conference
Edwin Ronoh Doane (Neb.) rick.schmuecker@doane.edu
Ben Sievert Concordia (Neb.) Scott.Retzlaff@cune.edu
Garret Ehlers Morningside (Iowa) rebstock@morningside.edu
Monte Larsen Morningside (Iowa)
Derik Simonsen Morningside (Iowa)
Gulf Coast Athletic Conference
Gary Pierrelus Edward Waters (Fla.) hsmith@ewc.edu
William Gonzalez Dillard (La.) vturner@dillard.edu
Jevonte Ezzard Dillard (La.)
Stevorn Richards Southern-New Orleans (La.) efrancis@suno.edu
Sebastien Narcissee Edward Waters (Fla.)
Heart of America Athletic Conference
Yonas Gebretinais Graceland (Iowa) mshelton@graceland.edu
Nicholas Hestand Evangel (Mo.) Kennedyk@evangel.edu
Colby Lapresi Central Methodist (Mo.) rpeterso@centralmethodist.edu
Austin Jacobs Evangel (Mo.)
Adam McGovern Avila (Mo.) Bob.Luder@avila.edu
Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Joel Allen Tabor (Kan.) anthonym@tabor.edu
Nick Haines Saint Mary (Kan.) baslerm@stmary.edu
Jacob Heil  Tabor (Kan.)
Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Matt Lowe Brescia (Ky.) john.swickrath@brescia.edu
John Egan Brescia (Ky.)
Jonathan Gears Cincinnati Christian (Ohio) beth.rogers@ccuniversity.edu
Matt McKenzie St. Louis Pharmacy (Mo.) jjokerst@stlcop.edu
Tyler Blair Brescia (Ky.)Mid-Central College Conference
Kyle Anderson Spring Arbor (Mich.) david.mayotte@arbor.edu
Andrew Albert Indiana Wesleyan kyle.schmidt@indwes.edu
Matt McAndrews  Indiana Wesleyan
Oscar Joses Kirwa Goshen (Ind.) joshag@goshen.edu
Jordan Smeltzer Goshen (Ind.)
Mid-South Conference 
Landon Hamilton Cumberlands (Ky.) jennifer.floyd@ucumberlands.edu
Nick Wilson Rio Grande (Ohio) rpayton@rio.edu
Matt Spencer Rio Grande (Ohio)
Cory Kleinjan Cumberlands (Ky.)
Daniel Thurston Cumberlands (Ky.)
Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference
Thomas Zunie Haskell (Kan.) jgipp@haskell.edu
Brannon Wallace Haskell (Kan.)
Warren Lannon York (Ne.) thinton@york.edu
Austin Blain Oklahoma Wesleyan tbeard@okwu.edu
Kyle Bottom York (Ne.)
Midwest Collegiate Conference
Kevin Randle St. Ambrose (Iowa) ThiessenBrianA@sau.edu
Jim Vonnahme Grand View (Iowa) mabrown@grandview.edu
Doug Powers Ashford (Iowa) christopher.shaw@ashford.edu
Brian Meyer Ashford (Iowa)
Alex Gonzales Ashford (Iowa)
Red River Athletic Conference
Kip Kosgei Northwood (Texas) croot@northwood.edu
Jairus Kipkemoi Wiley (Texas) hkeleta@wileyc.edu
Ebenezer Eshete Northwood (Texas)
David Duque Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) plconstantin@ollusa.edu
Darius Butler Huston-Tillotson (Texas) rckaase@htu.edu
Sooner Athletic Conference 
Izzy Miranda Lubbock Christian (Texas) chris.due@lcu.edu
David Sambrano Lubbock Christian (Texas)Southern States Athletic Conference
Mike Walker Lee (Tenn.) gstarr@leeuniversity.edu
Said Ahmed Lee (Tenn.)
Leonel Ayala Emmanuel (Ga.) dduncan@ec.edu
Ethan Alexander Emmanuel (Ga.)
Rashaun Tanner Emmanuel (Ga.)
The Sun Conference
Ignacio Fernandez SCAD Savannah (Ga.) slarson@scad.edu
John Sutherland SCAD Savannah (Ga.)
Tom Koetsenruijter SCAD Savannah (Ga.)
Brandon Scott Webber International (Fla.) sid@webber.edu
Marshall Meyer South Carolina Beaufort heberling@uscb.edu
Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
Louis Falland Cornerstone (Mich.) Carla.fles@cornerstone.edu
Jared Courtright Cornerstone (Mich.)
Travis Mabe Cornerstone (Mich.)
Cody Risch Cornerstone (Mich.)
Aaron Belcher Indiana Tech jmlipocky@indianatech.edu
Unaffiliated Group - American Mideast/American Midwest/TranSouth
Alex Bett Union (Tenn.) saldridg@uu.edu
Ryan Meyer William Woods (Mo.) John.Roushkolb@WilliamWoods.edu
Philiph Tonui Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) jordan.argo@hlg.edu
Stephen Hine  Houghton (N.Y.) matthew.dougherty@houghton.edu
Matthew Hussey Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) Chapman_Micah@Roberts.edu
Bryan Picciotto  Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.)
David Richards Houghton (N.Y.)
Unaffiliated Group - Independent/Frontier
Cesar Mireles Rocky Mountain (Mont.) taita@rocky.edu
Shane Donaldson Great Falls (Mont.) gpierce01@ugf.edu
Rigoberto Jimenez Great Falls (Mont.)
Noah Kiprono Rocky Mountain (Mont.)
Roberto Quintero Dickinson State (N.D.) Andre.Goldberg@dsu.nodak.edu


2011 NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championships
Team Qualifiers
School Qualification
Aquinas (Mich.) Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference champion
Azusa Pacific (Calif.) Golden State Athletic Conference champion
Biola (Calif.) At-Large
Brescia (Ky.) Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion
British Columbia At-Large
Cal State San Marcos Association of Independent Institutions champion
Carroll (Mont.) Unaffiliated Group - Independent/Frontier champion
Central Methodist (Mo.) Heart of America Athletic Conference champion
College of Idaho Cascade Collegiate Conference champion
Concordia (Neb.) Great Plains Athletic Conference champion
Concordia (Ore.) Host Berth
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) The Sun Conference champion
Friends (Kan.) Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference champion
Grand View (Iowa) Midwest Collegiate Conference champion
Indiana Wesleyan Mid-Central College Conference champion
Lee (Tenn.) Southern States Athletic Conference runner-up
Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) At-Large
Milligan (Tenn.) Appalachian Athletic Conference champion champion
Morningside (Iowa) At-Large
Northwest Christian (Ore.) At-Large
Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference champion
Park (Mo.) American Midwest Conference champion
Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) Unaffiliated Group - American Mideast/TranSouth champion
Saint Xavier (Ill.) At-Large
Shawnee State (Ohio) Mid-South Conference champion
Shorter (Ga.) Southern States Athletic Conference champion
Texas Wesleyan Red River Athletic Conference champion
The Master's (Calif.) At-Large
Wayland Baptist (Texas) Sooner Athletic Conference champion
Westmont (Calif.) At-Large
Xavier (La.) Gulf Coast Athletic Conference champion
York (Neb.) Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference champion2011 NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championships
Individual Qualifiers
American Midwest Conference
Kristi Palmer William Woods (Mo.)
Alexandra Weathersby Missouri Baptist
Breanna Newton Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.)
Cheryl Held William Woods (Mo.)
Courtney Henderson William Woods (Mo.)
Appalachian Athletic Conference
Sarah Birgen Tennessee Wesleyan
Lindsay Mizok Montreat (N.C.)
Alyssia Lindsay Bryan (Tenn.)
Ericka Simpson Bryan (Tenn.)
Jessica Stockton Bryan (Tenn.)
Association of Independent Institutions
Aleona Reyes Jamestown (N.D.)
California Pacific Conference
Agnes Silvestro Holy Names (Calif.)
Rebekah Studebaker Simpson (Calif.)
Maricruz Espindola Holy Names (Calif.)
Cascade Collegiate Conference
Karlee Coffey Eastern Oregon
Seena Frantz Southern Oregon
Alexandra Rudd Southern Oregon
Paige DeLapp Northwest (Wash.)
Courtney Welling Corban (Ore.)
Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
Anna Bos Trinity Christian (Ill.)
Hilary Halford St. Francis (Ill.)
Abby Jahn Illinois Tech
Courtney Rouse Illinois Tech
Sarah Miller Judson (Ill.)
Golden State Athletic Conference
Kim Jennings Vanguard (Calif.)
Breelan Matranga Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.)
Chelsea Van Cott Vanguard (Calif.)Great Plains Athletic Conference
Renee Buikema Dordt (Iowa)
Michelle Steiger Dordt (Iowa)
Jessa Sughroue Doane (Neb.)
Kelsey Christensen Doane (Neb.)
Kaylee Fly Mount Marty (S.D.)
Gulf Coast Athletic Conference
Monicah Jepkemboi Southern-New Orleans (La.)
Trydy-Ann Williams Southern-New Orleans (La.)
Brianna Blunt Tougaloo (Miss.)
Mackola Joseph Southern-New Orleans (La.)
Destinee Showell Dillard (La.)
Heart of America Athletic Conference
Lauren Jaqua Baker (Kan.)
Ashley McBride Baker (Kan.)
Kristen Ostrem Evangel (Mo.)
Naomi Reeh Benedictine (Kan.)
Katelyn Haymes Evangel (Mo.)
Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Brielle Lund Tabor (Kan.)
Jennifer Hendrixson Southwestern (Kan.)
Jackie Kamphaus Bethel (Kan.)
Aspen Frey McPherson (Kan.)
Chelsea Fullerton Ottawa (Kan.)
Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Devon Gruver Asbury (Ky.)
Carlie Rider Indiana East
Shaina Mason Berea (Ky.)
Megan Rogers St. Louis Pharmacy (Mo.)
Sarah Moe Asbury (Ky.)
Mid-Central College Conference
Carissa Hudson Spring Arbor (Mich.)
Gretchen Spahr Huntington (Ind.)
Trisha Miller Bethel (Ind.)
Jenna Norris Taylor (Ind.)
Kirstin Hegelein Taylor (Ind.)Mid-South Conference
Sharon Ronoh Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Darcy Mascotti Cumberlands (Ky.)
Cassie Mattia Rio Grande (Ohio)
Danielle Hoop Cumberlands (Ky.)
Elisha Overpeck Georgetown (Ky.)
Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference
Talisa Budder Haskell (Kan.)
Allie Antrim Oklahoma Wesleyan
Emily Weber Saint Mary (Neb.)
Stephanie Boone Saint Mary (Neb.)
Genevieve Estes Oklahoma Wesleyan
Midwest Collegiate Conference
Bea Foley Viterbo (Wis.)
Kriston Siemianowski Viterbo (Wis.)
Kara Danielsen Mount Mercy (Iowa)
Anne Bruno Mount Mercy (Iowa)
Taylor Helms Mount Mercy (Iowa)
Red River Athletic Conference
Jennifer Gonzalez Northwood (Texas)
Miriam Vazquez Our Lady of the Lake (Texas)
Trayshaenae Wright Northwood (Texas)
Janelle Williams Langston (Okla.)
Adriana Henderson Langston (Okla.)
Sooner Athletic Conference
Brenda Felipe Rogers State (Okla.)
Jacqueline Hallam Oklahoma Christian
Erin Sesemann Oklahoma Christian
Hannah Helker Oklahoma Baptist
Taylor Painter Oklahoma Baptist
Southern States Athletic Conference
Kate Imwalle Spring Hill (Ala.)
Erica Segars Southern Wesleyan (S.C.)
Brittany Aikens Brenau (Ga.)
Vanessa Righeimer Loyola (La.)
Sierra Zemanick Southern Wesleyan (S.C.)
Allison Droddy Southern Wesleyan (S.C.)
Emily Dolan Spring Hill (Ala.)The Sun Conference
Melanie Novack SCAD Savannah (Ga.)
Hannah Lieberman SCAD Savannah (Ga.)
Megan O'boyle SCAD Savannah (Ga.)
Selena Hutson South Carolina Beaufort
Kaylea Spurlin Warner (Fla.)
Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
Bianca Kubicki Madonna (Mich.)
Beth Heldmeyer Siena Heights (Mich.)
Lindsay Payne Siena Heights (Mich.)
Julie Oosterhouse Cornerstone (Mich.)
Joan Stoian Michigan-Dearborn
Unaffiliated Group - American Mideast/TranSouth
Danielle Brenon Houghton (N.Y.)
LaTifa Swims Blue Mountain (Miss.)
Allison Martin Union (Tenn.)
Audrey Hazlehurst Union (Tenn.)
Leah Williams  Houghton (N.Y.)
Unaffiliated Group - Independent/Frontier
Gladys Rotich Dickinson State (N.D.)
Megan Beam  Rocky Mountain (Mont.)
Mackenzie O'Dore Rocky Mountain (Mont.)
Brittany Young Dickinson State (N.D.)
Rachael Hart Rocky Mountain (Mont.)