Cedarville University

http://www.cedarville.edu/2007-08/nccaaxc/index.htm

NCCAA Cedarville University Men's Cross Country

Elvin R. King Cross Country Course
Cedarville University - Cedarville, Ohio
November 10, 2007

27th Annual Women's Championship - 10 a.m. (Eastern)
35th Annual Men's Championship - 11 a.m. (Eastern)

Repeat performance: Cedarville women, Malone win NCCAA titles

Emily LaSala
IWU's Emily LaSala is on her way to victory. (Nathan Chester pic)

CEDARVILLE, Ohio (11-10-07) - It was a different year and much better weather conditions, but the outcomes were still the same. Cedarville University won the 27th Annual NCCAA Women's Cross Country Championship at the Elvin R. King Cross Country Course and Malone College took the men's 35th Annual event.

Cedarville, currently the #2 ranked team in the NAIA, won its second straight title and seventh overall with 29 points. Runner-up Malone had 61 points and Indiana Wesleyan was third with 94. A total of 24 schools posted team scores and 162 runners participated.

Emily LaSala became the first-ever Indiana Wesleyan female to win the meet. Her time for the 5,000 meters was 17:59.04. Cedarville's tandem of Nicole Santos (18:14) and Lydia Wong (18:27) took the next two spots. The top 15 finishers are All-Americans.

In the men's division, NAIA #1 Malone cruised to the title with 30 points. Indiana Wesleyan was next with 63 points and was followed by MidAmerica Nazarene, who tallied 91. Malone has won 18 of the last 21 championships including three in a row. There were 22 men's teams and 156 competitors.

Noah Too
MidAmerica Nazarene's Noah Too won his second straight NCCAA men's title. (Nathan Chester pic)

Noah Too of MidAmerica Nazarene repeated as the individual champion by touring the 8,000 meters in 24:46. Simpson's Abednego Magut was the runner-up in 25:18 and Chris Sinick of Malone placed third in 25:28.

For the second straight year, the women's individual champion also took home the coveted Bullock Award. Indiana Wesleyan's Emily LaSala was honored as the NCCAA's Outstanding Female Runner in athletics, academics, leadership, Christian character, and Christian service. Elvin King of Cedarville was named NCCAA Women's Coach of the Year.

The Wheeler Award, recognizing the NCCAA Outstanding Male Runner in athletics, academics, leadership, Christian character, and Christian service, was presented to Elias Rojas of Indiana Wesleyan.. Malone's Jack Hazen was recognized as NCCAA Men's Coach of the Year.

A total of 70 student-athletes - 49 women and 21 men - were honored as NCCAA Scholar-Athletes. The group consists of juniors and seniors who maintain a minimum 3.40 cumulative grade point average.

Malone had the lowest combined team score of 91 points (61 women, 30 men). Cedarville was second at 126 (29-97) while Indiana Wesleyan was third at 157 (94-63).

Cedarville University
2007 NCCAA Women's Cross Country Champion
Cedarville University
(Photo by Nathan Chester)

Malone College
2007 NCCAA Men's Cross Country Champion
Malone College
(Photo by Nathan Chester)

North Central takes women's, men's NCCAA Division II titles

For the second consecutive year, North Central University swept the NCCAA Division II cross country championships. The Rams won the women's banner with 39 points and Baptist Bible College was the runner-up with 52 points. North Central's men totaled 59 points to edge Toccoa Falls, who finished with 62 points.

Naomi Metlzer of Baptist Bible was the women's Division II individual champion with a time of 20:22 for the 5,000 meters. Cincinnati Christian's Scott Pagel covered the 8,000 meters in 26:54 to capture the men's Division's title.

North Central University
2007 NCCAA Division II Women's Cross Country Champion
North Central University
(Photo by Nathan Chester)

North Central University
2007 NCCAA Division II Men's Cross Country Champion
North Central University
(Photo by Nathan Chester)

CONTACT:
Mark Womack
Sports Information Director
Cedarville University
937-766-7766 office
937-766-5556 fax