NAIA XC/TF 2024-25

Looking into it early on Taylor might be the favorite for both men and women in XC

TMU’s men are really close with Taylor.

After the CCC was pretty dominant this year I think we’ll see the power shift back to Crossroads on the men’s side.

Taylor, Spring Arbor, and Marian all have trophy potential.

I don’t know what happened to Glen Davis or Kobe Blanco from Spring Arbor. Davis was a top runner for them in XC and didn’t race once in track, and actually wasn’t even on the outdoor TFRRS roster. Blanco was a sub 25 guy who only ran 4:23 for the 1500/8:59 for the 3k/15:36 for 5k.

Goshen should get back into relevance again with Drew Hogan back off the redshirt.

IWU loses a lot but they recruit really well and should replace some of what they lose.

On the men's side, Cumberland's XC will dominate, without doubt.

It's time for the buffaloes to roam.

With who?

Shevchenko is gone. Madeo just announced he’s going to Adams State. Asslouj is going to TAMU.

They’re in a bad spot for next year, their four returners placed 54-75-200-218

LUCA MADEO SIGNED AT ADAMS STATE !!! OMG NOW IT‘S OVER FOR D2 😭.

They do what they always do…kids transfer out, and more scholarbook kids come in. Look at their Instagram, they will be fine. But dominate? Don’t think so.

From the looks of their Instagram, they’re bringing in a French guy who runs 4:07/8:55 (1500/3k), an elite mid distance guy from Finald (3:45/8:17), one monster from Eritrea that runs 13:30 if that is the correct guy. Hugo Massa is coming from CMU, but is a pretty poor 8k runner.

They have a 1:54/4:25(1600) guy from high school but I don’t know what he’ll do in the 8k considering his 3200 time is pretty weak compared to his mid distance PRs.

Definitely a solid group with Loser, Vaccari, Ehrler and McClellan. If everyone is there and able to stay healthy then ig I was wrong about them being in a bad spot.

Problem is that half the international guys they usually post on Instagram don’t end up ever running for Cumberlands.

CUMBERLANDS MENS RETURNERS
Noah Löser (3k->10k)
(8:25.65/14:38.67)
Noah McClellan (3k->10k)
(8:24.47/14:47.03)
Ryan Erler (800m->1,500m)
(1:51.31/3:54.30/8:52.01)
Temo Fitiao (3k->10k)
(3:52.0/8:34.99/14:38.81)
Ishak Medichi (1,500m->3k)
(1:57.42/3:57.84/8:33.84)
Hauke Trost (800m->1,500m)
(1:52.65/3:51.40)
Jon Eades (3k->10k)
(25:03 8k)
Nate Powers (3k->10k)
(25:44 8k as freshman)
Victor Carpeganni (800m)
(1:52.23/3:58.66)
Maddox Knight
(1:56.18)
Bartosz Trojinar (Steepler)
(4:06.49/9:25.81(St.)
Max Young (800m)
(1:56.08/4:02.65)
Jackson Lowe (800m)
(1:55.86)
Reed Richardson (800m)
(1:57.93)

NEW EDITIONS TO THE SQUAD
Julius Mäkinen (800m/15/3k)
(1:52.62/3:45.02/:17.82) + 14:55/30:22
Tammo Doerner (800m/15/3k)
(1:54.71/3:52.22/8:27.45/15:11.0)
Niklas Scherb (3k->5k)
(3:56.0/8:26.57/15:10.0)
Daniel Gebru (1,500m)
(3:51.26)
Sean Crady (800m/Mile/3,000m)
(1:55.9/3:55.0/8:40.0)
Caden Cull (800m/1,500m/9:25.19)
(1:53.46/3:57.83/8:46.0)
Ben Beilfuß (800m/15/3k)
(1:58.57/4:00.86/8:49.0)
Casey Desilvey (800m/1500/3000)
(1:59.58/4:02.0/8:52.0)
Marius Maupoux (3k/Steeple) (4:07.37/8:46.00/9:32.30(St)
Nathan Wagner (800m/1500/3000)
(1:53.63/4:04.0/9:12.0)
Linus Schaller
(PR’s unknown)

————————————————————

Out of the returners, the Pats unfortunately lose Ludovico Vaccari to the transfer portal. However both seniors Noah McClellan and Temo Fitiao are ready to make a comeback after redshirting last cross country season and outdoor season. They boast impressive PR’s, that’s why they remain unknown. Worth noting that McClellan had a breakout season during indoor, and narrowly missed the 8th All-American spot in the 3k. Noah Löser is coming back from a string of injuries and has been healthy and consistently training since September of last year, he ran 24:51 as a freshman back in 2023, not to mention his 5k PR is 14:38. Ryan Erler is an absolute freak of nature, with a healthy mix of hard work; he broke 25 minutes last season as a Freshman, running his best at nationals, and has ran crazy fast mid-distance times on the track. Ishak Mekideche is also a big darkhorse for this XC season; this guy is pure talent, but also works hard; and has ran decently well on the track, he did not arrive in America until January 2025, so is XC potential is unknown.
Out of the newcomers, this has to be the most talented group Cumberlands has ever been blessed with. Stacked with talent over every distance, some fast internationals, and even having top Kentuckian talent, there will be some guys that will be dominant in the coming seasons.

Only time will tell, but I would say the Cumberlands have a realistic shot of a podium finish, and possibly even their first XC team title this fall!

Judging from previous years at least 3/4 of the "incomers" will never run.

Honestly madeo going to Adams is a bad look. I can see losing kids to the TAMUs of the world but losing them to D2 schools is unfortunate. Should be staying at that point.

Also fitao ran 15:22 last year so he probably won't be an all American.

Sowdar won't win unless he has a massive talent advantage. He's just not good at coaching

I agree with madeo to Adams state is a bad look. Unfortunately we are in a time of transfers and everyone will be affected by it. Kids just think its always better somewhere else and that's magnified now more than ever. Its the cool thing to do now. Its not like madeo can say it wasn't getting better because he's one for sure that improved during his time at NAIA.

I decided to go to Adam State because of altitude! Cumberlands was awesome! Just didn’t have altitude! ~Luca Madeo

Even with me being critical of Cumberlands, I don’t understand losing a kid to a top tier d2 being a “bad look”.

He’s a sub 29 guy and seems to be interested in competing at a higher level considering he’s already racing in EU u23s.

Most of the other top guys at Cumberlands will be gone so he won’t have many other training partners, plus from what I heard Asslouj was unhappy for a while and was already pretty much done training at Cumberlands after indoor.

Even if Sowder is prescribing good workouts and overall training for Madeo, it would’ve been hard for him to reach his peak at Cumberlands considering he’d have nobody to push him in workouts.

Adams State has a number of guys right around Madeo’s 5k/10k PRs plus he’ll be able to train at 7500 feet, while Cumberlands isn’t even at 1000 feet elevation.

Someone in Madeo’s spot shouldn’t be at any NAIA school because it’s holding him back. I also believe that Senzo Sokhela should’ve left Westmont after his freshman year, and from a purely training perspective I can’t understand why Halterman would stay at Taylor, even though they’re the best women’s program in the NAIA.

Cumberlands' raw talent wise/roster-wise, compared to the rest of the NAIA, is most likely still top 2-4 at worst, can make an arguement for best. They have the best incoming class from what I have seen so far, by far. But a lot of their returners and incoming talents have not proven on the grass for 8K. But with 3K returning times of 8:17, 8:24, 8:25, 8:26, 8:27, 8:33, 8:34, and 2 sub-9:20 domestic 3200 recruits coming in. They definitely could have the roster to place 3rd again this fall, if not higher if they put it together. The depth is certainly there. The only issue with them is not been proven in many events above 3K, I know Fiato has put up 14:38, Loser 14:38, McClellan 14:47, and Mäkinen 14:55 for 5 Ks, but that's not head and shoulders above the field compared to other contenders. Not to mention, we don't know if some of the guys coming in overseas are going to be eligible come September.

I think Taylor & The Masters are the two favorites. The Masters getting Jude Devries from Cal Poly as a better replacement for Ybarra and Jack Anderson back as the top returner last XC Season is massive. TMU can very realistically go 1-2 at Nationals, which would be huge for team title hopes. De Leon is a good enough 3 after his 14:35 5K this track season, could be a Top 15-20 guy at Nationals. Cedar Collins is the key for them in regards to a team title. 3:51 1500/14:42 5K/Sub 25 8K is an All-American Candidate. If they put 2 in the Top 5, assuming their 3 & 4 are All Americans. Their 5 just needs to be solid (Top 50-60) for them to win. Taylor has, in my opinion, more depth than the Masters and also has star power. A very experienced group of almost all seniors. Key for them is a healthy Nate Burns, who didn't race outdoors after running 8:16 at Indoor Nationals. Burns also did not look 100% in the fall after being an All-American in XC as a True Freshman. If healthy, Burns (8:16, 14:45, 24:32), Luke Harber (14:28 5K, XC all American), and Ryan Hanak (8:17, 14:32, 24:23) are all Top 10 Caliber Guys and likely the top trio in the Country this fall. With Mumaw (3:51 1500, 14:59 5K) Stayte (4:16 Mile, 9:09 Steeple, 25:12 8K), Ortiz (8:34 3k, 24:59 8K), and Burden (15:01 5K) as supporting casts is very strong. As I wouldn't be too surprised if any of the supporting cast also All-American.

The College of Idaho, Milligan, and IWU all lost a lot this fall. But all 3 have strong classes, so they should still be competitive for a podium spot. Does anyone know who Oklahoma City brings in/Everyone they lost besides Silva? If they bring back a good nucleus, they could be contenders as well. SCAD Atlanta just picked up a 4:03 Miler that's a Trafser from Texas, and Montreat picked up an 8:17, 14:26 Appalachian State Transfer. Marian and Spring Arbor are also massive podium threats without losing anyone. My rankings as of now would be

Taylor

The Masters

Cumberlands

Marian

Spring Arbor

Milligan

I'd put OKC on this list if I knew who was leaving/returning.

What are you talking about?The conversation was about the next XC season so the post does matter. Plus why are you assuming its him when plenty of others do research and post rankings.

in terms of small Christian schools in the Midwest, Cornerstone has recently turned from being distance focused with multiple All Americans in the 5k and 10k to a more Mid D focused program.
men's team has had great success mainly in the 800m with earning all American honors in the 4x800 3 seasons in a row with 2 top 3 finishes this past outdoor and indoor seasons without having a single 800 all American which attributes to their depth and development of athletes. They also have 12 running 2:00 or faster this indoor/outdoor season:
9/12 1:58, 6/12 sub 1:55, 3 guys sub 1:53
the women's team also had a great showing from their 800/1500 group with 10 girls running sub 2:30 and 7 5:00 and below in the 1500, most being underclassmen.
5/10 sub 2:20, 2/10 sub 2:15, 3/7 sub 4:50
The women's 4x800 had a surprise run for a 5th place finish at outdoor nationals after not making it out of prelims during indoor, adding stud freshman Emma Steele who ran 2:13 in the open 800 was probably responsible for that leap.

overall, small and Christian school that doesn't have much in terms of facilities to recruit with but has shown that the coaches can develop mid d athletes that weren't good enough for d2 or bigger naia schools.

Pretty much next season for both the individual and team races depends on who Cumberlands will actually bring in.

If they don’t bring in all those guys who they’re supposed to I think it’s pretty much TMU vs Taylor.

SCAD ATL has a number of solid recruits coming in. They’re not a contender but they could surprise some people.