(Lewiston, ID) – Both Lewis-Clark State Cross Country teams remained in the NAIA’s top 15 in the latest ratings, released on Thursday. The Warrior men held steady at No. 13 while the women did the same at No. 14.
The men’s team has gotten off to a strong start with a large number of personal-bests in every race and a win over an NCAA Division I opponent. Carter Gordon put his name in the record books with a top-10 8k time in program history at the Cougar Classic en route to his first Cascade Conference Runner of the Week honor of the season. At the season-opening Inland Northwest Clash, the Warrior men placed ahead of DI Idaho to emphasize the talent on this season’s squad.
College of Idaho climbed to No. 4 and Eastern Oregon fell one spot to No. 8. Corban (Ore.) joins the group in the top 25 at No. 23 while Northwest (Wash.) and Southern Oregon are receiving votes.
LC State’s women’s team has shown its youth so far this season with strong performances from freshmen Lily Bennett and Damaris Kibiwot. Along with upperclassmen Grace Tiegs and Abigail Gorton, the pair of first-years have placed in the top five for the Warrior women at each of the first two races. Spokane Falls CC transfer Camille Ussher rounded out the top five each time to keep the front group of Warrior women consistent. Tiegs led LC in the first meet and was named the CCC Runner of the Week, and Bennett stepped up to be the first Warrior across the line in the most recent race.
Defending NAIA National Champion College of Idaho stayed at No. 6 and Southern Oregon climbed two spots to No. 9. Eastern Oregon is receiving votes.
UP NEXT
A group of LC State men are in action on Friday at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Mo. The race is held on the same course where the 2024 NAIA Cross Country National Championships will be held in November. The Warrior women, along with the men who do not race in Missouri, will compete at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational in Salem, Ore., on Oct. 5.
