COMING UP: at Cascade Conference Championships (presented by U.S. Bank), Cottage Grove, Ore. (Middlefield Golf Course), Friday – Men's 8,000-meters, 10 a.m. (PT), Women's 5,000-meters, 11 a.m. (PT)
C OF I'S HISTORY AT THE MEET: Since C of I restarted their cross country program in 2004, the men's program has finished in fourth-place or better in all 15 CCC Championships – including five second-place finishes, while winning the 2018 championship. The women's team has won five league titles (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013) – with
Greg Montgomery,
Marcos Cervantes,
Hillary Holt and Stephanie Helm all winning individual CCC titles.
RANKINGS: Both Coyote teams head into the CCC championships ranked in the Top-5 of the NAIA National Poll – the men's team at No. 2 in the ranking for the past five weeks (their highest ranking in program history), with the women's team ranked No. 3 for the past five weeks. Three other CCC men's teams are in the Top-25 (No. 5 Southern Oregon, No. 17 Oregon Tech and No. 23 Eastern Oregon), along with three other CCC women's teams (No. 9 Southern Oregon, No. 12 Eastern Oregon and No. 18 Oregon Tech).
C OF I MEN'S SEASON SO FAR: C of I has been the most dominant NAIA team on the West Coast – posting an unblemished record against small college teams in the Northwest, including wins at the Eastern Oregon Open and the Warrior Invitational. An extremely tight pack at the front has been key – as the squad returns four All-CCC performers, including 2018 CCC champ
Marcos Cervantes, 2018 All-Americans
Alex Martin and
Cole Campbell, along with sophomore
Bryce Odegard – while
Josh Frey has emerged as a front-runner in 2019. The Yotes have competed head-to-head against the top teams in the CCC, defeating Southern Oregon by over a minute in total time and both Eastern Oregon and Oregon Tech by over two minutes at the Warrior Invite.
SURVEYING THE MEN'S FIELD: Southern Oregon had their 10-year run of league titles snapped in 2018 by C of I, with the Raiders improving steadily this season, led by returning All-CCC racer, Brandon Kelsey. Eastern Oregon returns All-CCC competitor, Dustin Zimmerly, while Alex Navarro has had an outstanding 2019 season. Former All-CCC racer Mark French leads an improving Oregon Tech squad; Northwest's Riley Sine is one of the favorites to win the individual title after claimed the crown in September's CCC preview; while Northwest Christian returns All-CCC pick Jacob Truitt
C OF I WOMEN'S SEASON SO FAR: The Coyotes have had an outstanding regular season, picking up team wins at both the Eastern Oregon Open and the Warrior Invite – defeating rivals Southern Oregon, Oregon Tech and Eastern Oregon by over a 2-minute team-time margin. C of I is led by indoor 5,000-meter national champion,
Molly Vitale-Sullivan, a two-time All-CCC pick and NAIA All-American, with sophomore
Larissa Mauer, a 2018 All-CCC pick, and junior
Erin Moyer joining the senior in tight lead pack. The key for the Coyotes success has been the development of their scoring racers – as senior
Lilly Whitehead, juniors
Chaye Uptmor and
Abigail Craig, along with true freshman
Abbey Shirts, have all had stellar seasons.
SURVEYING THE WOMEN'S FIELD: Though C of I has been the highest ranked team throughout the season, Oregon Tech is the defending CCC champ – en route to an NAIA national title. The Owls return All-CCC racer Faith Widman and true freshman Delani Detrich has had a great 2019 season. Southern Oregon has been ranked in Top-20 all season, returning Ariana Toland, a 2018 All-CCC pick, with Eastern Oregon showing marked improvement during the year, paced by Michelle Herbes. Perennial CCC power, Northwest Christian returns All-CCC and NAIA steeplechase national champ, Anika Rasubala, while Warner Pacific's Amelia Pullen has had an outstanding regular-season and is among the favorites to win the individual title.
WHAT'S AT STAKE: The winning men's and winning women's team will receive the CCC's automatic berth to the NAIA National Championships, set for Nov. 22 in Vancouver, Wash., with the Top-5 racers (in the Top-12) that are not on a team that qualifies for the NAIA Championships, earning at-large spots. The Top-12 individuals in the final meet standings will earn All-CCC honors.
