53rd Annual Men's and 29th Annual Women's Championship events will be hosted by UW-Parkside

The 2008 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men's and Women's Cross Country National Championships will be held at Dr. Wayne E. Dannehl Cross Country Course in Kenosha, Wis.  The 53rd Annual Men's and 29th Annual Women's Championship events will be hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

Kenosha, the nation's only pure cross country courses with its long-standing history as a community that embraces the sport, has hosted 27 NAIA National Championship Cross Country events.

Kenosha, which hosted four NAIA championship races from 1976 to 1979 and 22 more title races between 1981 and 2002, is one of six cities to host the event. Other cities that have hosted NAIA Cross Country National Championships include: Omaha, Neb.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Liberty, Mo.; Salina, Kan.; and most recently, Louisville, Ky. The NAIA has conducted the men's championship since the inaugural 1955 first race in Salina, Kan.

This year's women's 5K race will feature 32 teams, including 25 conferences/independents/unaffiliated champions and seven at-large bids and 112 individual qualifiers.  Cedarville (Ohio) held the top spot in nine of the 11 Coaches' Top 25 Polls this season and is the favorite to capture the team title.  Azusa Pacific (Calif.) was ranked No. 1 twice this year and will challenge for the title.  APU will be led by defending NAIA Individual National Champion, Jaime Canterbury.  Simon Fraser (B.C.), who claimed the last five championships, received an at-large berth and will aim for its 11th national title in school history. 

The Men's 8K race will also welcome 32 teams (including 25 conferences/independents/unaffiliated champions and seven at-large bids) and 111 individual qualifiers.  Malone (Ohio) captured its second national title last season and is once again the front runner this season.  The Pioneers have gone wire-to-wire as the top team in Coaches' Top 25 Polls this season.  Azusa Pacific (Calif.) finished second in the final top-25 poll and will race for its first national title.  The Cougars will be led by defending NAIA Individual National Champion, Aron Rono.

For more information on the 2008 National Championship, click here: Men | Women