CU 12th; SOU 15th in First Set of NAIA Learfield Sports Directors Cup Standings
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Behind a pair of top-25 national finishes in cross country, Concordia University finished in 12th place in the first fall Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings.
Azusa Pacific (Calif.) leads Malone (Ohio) by 12.5 points, 190.00-177.50 for the top spot in the standings. The Cougars finished first at the women’s cross country national meet and second at the men’s cross country meet.
The Pioneers of Malone (Ohio) tallied two top-five finishes, including the men’s cross country national title. The women’s cross country team placed fourth in the national meet.
Concordia garnered 63 total points via a ninth-place result in the men’s cross country championships and a 21st-place result for the women’s cross country program.
Coming in at 15th in the rankings, Southern Oregon also represented the Cascade Collegiate Conference after compiling 80 points by way of a fourth-place team finish in men’s cross country.
Two of the six fall NAIA championships have been completed with the following institutions capturing titles: Azusa Pacific (Calif.) (women’s cross country); and Malone (Ohio) (men’s cross country).
The Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 12 sports – six women’s and six men’s.