COLUMBIA, Mo. – The College of Idaho men's cross country team defended its No. 1 national ranking, capturing the NAIA National Championship on Friday at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course. The Yotes overcame a 20-point deficit at the 6-kilometer mark to secure the title, edging out their competition with late-race heroics. The women raced immediately after and also scored in the nation's top ten with 7th place.
Daniel Butler led the Yotes, finishing sixth overall, while Hayden Bostrom (11th) and Elias Everist (13th) maintained strong positioning throughout the race to anchor the team's performance. Key surges by Brevin Vaughan, who placed 27th, and Oclan Ryan, who finished 48th, provided critical scoring depth to seal the victory.
This marks the second consecutive national championship for head coach Dom Bolin, who guided the men's team to his second title in as many season after leading the women to a championship last year in Vancouver, Washington.
"I'm incredibly proud of these guys," Bolin said. We knew it would be a battle today. We talked all year about executing our plan and not worrying about anyone else, and they did that today."
The women's team, meanwhile, placed seventh in the nation despite losing four of its top five runners from last year's title-winning squad. Kahea Figueira capped her standout season with an 11th-place finish to lead the Yotes. Julia Gilbert (35th), Kylee Quinton (43rd), Molly Connor (56th), and Kimbrie Knudsen (66th) rounded out the scoring for a team that entered nationals fresh off a Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) championship win.
Both teams enjoyed remarkable seasons, sweeping CCC team titles and earning multiple individual honors. Butler claimed four individual victories, including the CCC championship, while Figueira won two races, highlighted by her CCC title. The Yotes also swept the CCC Runner of the Week accolades four times, and Butler was named USTFCCCA West-Region Runner of the Year.
"We pride ourselves on be consistent in everything we do, and I thought both teams demonstrated that all year," Bolin continued. "These kids never cease to amaze me. I'm truly honored to have such an amazing coaching staff and group of kids to work with."
The championship victory underscores College of Idaho's position as a dominant force in NAIA cross country, with both teams celebrating seasons of distinction.
