VANCOUVER, Wash. – [Final Results] Milligan (Tenn.) edged Saint Mary (Kan.) by a matter of five points to capture its second NAIA Men’s Cross Country National Championship. The Buffs finished with 93 points, five ahead of the Spires to claim the red banner.

Milligan had three finish in the top 10 of the standings, all led by Bryn Woodall (6^th). The junior finished with a time of 24:56.9 in the 8k, just a couple seconds ahead of teammate Aaron Jones (7^th). Will Stockley (9^th) rounded-out the Buffs that took a spot in the Top 10.

The tight finish between the top two was incredibly close. Only one race in NAIA history has finished within 10 points (1986, tie at 78 points between Adams State and Western State).

Jackson Wilson of Rocky Mountain (Mont.) was the 2023 NAIA Men’s Cross Country Individual Champion. The senior completed his championship race with a time of 24:31.8, climbing up from fourth in the final kilometer. Joseph Skoog of Bethel (Tenn.) finished in second (24:40.9) while Emad Bashir-Mohammed of Saint Mary claimed the No. 3 spot as he fought through the pain in the final meters. Robert Swoboda of Corban (Ore.) finished in fourth (24:50.3) while Serhii Shevchenko rounded-out the top five finishers (24:55.7)

Following the race, Milligan’s Chris Layne was named the 2023 NAIA Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year. This is the second coach of the year honor for Layne.

The top 40 individual finishers were named 2023 NAIA Men’s Cross Country All-Americans.