The 2026 NCCAA Cross Country National Championships will be hosted by Ozark Christian College at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course in Joplin, MO. All four races will be held on Friday, November 13 with Division I Women at 9:00 am, Division II Women at 9:45 am, Division I Men at 10:45 am, and Division II Men at 11:30 am (all times CT).

How to Follow
Results: Click here
Twitter: @TheNCCAA | @NCCAAChamps
Instagram: @TheNCCAA
Flickr: Photos from the event will be posted here
General Info & Final Results: Championship Page

THE COURSE
The Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course is located on the campus of Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO. Unique in its construction, the course has a 5K loop on grass that finishes just south of the starting line through a picturesque arch that has the words MSSU Cross Country going from pillar to pillar. 

COURSE MAPS
5k Map | 8k Map

HISTORY
This is the second straight year the NCCAA has held the cross country national championships in Joplin, returning for the first time since 2021 last year. Malone University holds the record for most Division I Men's Cross Country National Championships with 21 total, winning their first since 2011 at last year's race. On the Division I Women's side, the Pioneers also hold the record with 14 national championships and have won back-to-back blue banners entering this year's event. For Division II Men's Cross Country, Bob Jones University has won the most national championships, having won 10 straight since 2016. In Division II Women's Cross Country, Moody Bible Institute holds the top mark with seven national championships, winning all of their titles from 2013-2019.

LAST YEAR
In Division I men's cross country, Malone University won their first national championship since 2011, edging out Mid-America Christian University. Tanner Bailey of College of the Ozarks won the individual championship by almost 17 seconds, finishing the 8k race with a time of 24:32.9. For the women, Malone won their second straight national championship, beating out the University of Northwestern. CofO also took home the individual championship in women's cross country, as Keena Goze was the only runner to finish the 5k in under 19 minutes, as her time of 18:57.3 was almost 19 seconds faster than the second place runner.

On the Division II side, Bob Jones University took home their tenth straight men's cross country championship, while Alex Morton of Boyce College became the first Bulldog runner to win the individual national championship, winning the 8k race by seven seconds with a time of 27:11.2. In women's DII cross country, Crown College won their second straight NCCAA DII Women's Cross Country National Championship, as Ella Dufault won the individual championship for the second year in a row, winning the 5k race by over 35 seconds with a time of 19:35.5.

LODGING
Visit Joplin, MO has a list of hotels in the area.

TICKETS
There will be an admissions charge of $5. Ages 6 and under are free.

CONCESSIONS
No concessions will be available on site. Teams and fans should bring their own food and drinks.

CHAMPIONSHIP GEAR
Fine Designs, the Official NCCAA Championship Apparel Provider, will be on site. Custom apparel may also be purchased at championshipgear.com.

SPECTATOR CODE OF CONDUCT
The NCCAA is committed to the true spirit of competition and upholding the four core values of the Game Plan 4 LIFE: Love, Integrity, Faith, and Excellence. We ask that spectator join us in exhibiting these Christ-like characteristics and help create a positive environment. Profanity, derogatory comments and slurs, or other intimidating actions directed at student-athletes, officials, team representatives, or other fans will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal.

TOP TEAM TIMES - DIVISION I MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY - 8K



Mid-America Christian University - 2:03:46
Malone University - 2:04:43
College of the Ozarks - 2:16:30
Asbury University - 2:18:32
Campbellsville University - 2:19:02

TOP TEN FASTEST INDIVIDUAL TIMES - DI MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY - 8K



Mohamed Guled - Mid-America Christian University - 22:53.8
Abdulsalam Farah - Mid-America Christian University - 24:21.9
Xander Heil - Malone University - 24:39.6
Yahya Jawadi - Malone University - 24:47.1
Wyatt Royster - Malone University - 24:47.3
Alex Hill - Malone University - 24:56.2
Nolyn Corder  - College of the Ozarks - 25:01.4
Caden LaRue - Malone University - 25:11.7
Kaydon Payne - Mid-America Christian University - 25:14.9
Zach Bugner - Malone University - 25:15.3

TOP TEAM TIMES - DIVISION I WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY - 5K



Malone University - 1:35:44
Azusa Pacific University - 1:35:45
College of the Ozarks - 1:37:05
University of Northwestern - 1:39:48
Asbury University - 1:40:08

TOP TEN FASTEST INDIVIDUAL TIMES - DI WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY - 5K



Naomi Sotelo - Azusa Pacific University - 17:54.06
Ashylnn Doolan - Azusa Pacific University - 18:12
Keena Goze - College of the Ozarks - 18:19
Rachel Whetstone - Malone University - 18:30
Nora de Walle - Azusa Pacific University - 18:32.53
Natalie Van De Riet - University of Northwestern - 18:45
Anna Enderle  - Bethel University - 18:45
Emery Maki - University Northwestern - 19:00
Tia Bethards - College of the Ozarks - 19:07
Emilie Zylstra - College of the Ozarks - 19:09

TOP TEAM TIMES - DIVISION II MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY - 8K



Crown College - 2:21:06
Bob Jones University - 2:22:05
Emmaus University - 2:24:06
Spurgeon College - 2:25:25
Faith Baptist Bible College - 2:27:26

TOP TEN FASTEST INDIVIDUAL TIMES - DII MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY - 8K



Andrew Deedon - Crown College - 26:00.9
Jacob Doshier - Bob Jones University - 26:15
Alex Davis - Faith Baptist Bible College - 26:35.8
Aidan Thurber - Trinity Bible College - 26:55
Cody Rummel - Crown College - 27:14.4
David Tuttle - Crown College - 27:18.1
Theo Thurber - Trinity Bible College - 27:19
Patrick De Ronde - Spurgeon College - 27:37
Zechariah Slater - Spurgeon College - 27:41
James Baer - Bob Jones University - 27:45

TOP TEAM TIMES - DIVISION II WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY - 5K



Crown College - 1:39:32
Bob Jones University - 1:48:01
Faith Baptist Bible College - 1:50:29
Moody Bible Insititue - 1:50:43
Boyce College - 2:05:58

TOP TEN FASTEST INDIVIDUAL TIMES - DII WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY - 5K



Brooklyn Hart - Crown College - 19:14
Carlie Blevins - Faith Baptist Bible College - 19:15
Ella Dufault - Crown College - 19:30
Ruth Brueckner - Crown College - 19:53
Lindsey Morrison - Crown College - 19:59
Callie Dufault - Crown College - 20:21
Jade Murdoch - Great Lakes Christian College - 20:26.5
Samantha Hundt - Moody Bible Institute - 20:30
Laura Roland - Bob Jones University - 20:44
Lucy Bollweg - Boyce College - 21:18

About the NCCAA
Established in 1968, the National Christian College Athletic Association uses intercollegiate athletics to further the Great Commission and is committed to equipping student-athletes and coaches to make a positive impact for Christ. The NCCAA currently holds 24 national championship events for 86 member schools across 28 states and Ontario, Canada. For more information on the NCCAA, visit our website, thenccaa.org, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram at @thenccaa.