CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Indiana Wesleyan University is the 2018 NAIA Men’s Cross Country National Championship runner-up. The second place finish is the best in program history as it eclipses the third place finish from 2015. Oklahoma City (Okla.) won the national title with 116 points. Indiana Wesleyan was second with 143 points as they outdistanced St. Francis (Ill.) with 162 points.

A MEET FOR THE RECORD BOOKS

Jesse Saxton and Chris Maxon led the Wildcats with NAIA All-American performances. Saxton finished as the national runner-up and tied the Indiana Wesleyan record with a time of 24:47, previously set by Neno Bellinotti in 2015. The second place individual finish is the highest in program history. Maxon placed seventh overall with a time of 24:43, which is the third fastest time in program history.

EVENT VITALS

Team Finish:  2nd of 36 teams
Number of Runners:  330
Location:   Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

1.  Jesse Saxton:  2nd, 24:27
2.  Chris Maxon:  7th, 24:43
3.  Adrien Howard:  45th, 25:22
4.  Adam Fields:  46th, 25:23
5.  Landon Miller:  76th, 25:32
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6.  Jared Williams:  115th, 25:49
7.  Josh Brocato:  166th, 26:07

STANDINGS

1.  Oklahoma City (Okla.)     116
2.  Indiana Wesleyan     143
3.  St. Francis (Ill.)     162
4.  Southern Oregon     181
5.  St. Mary (Kan.)     218

FOSS SAYS…

“Doing the little things right apparently works. This season and this team was amazing. I couldn’t ask for a better effort.”

NEXT FOR THE WILDCATS

The 2018 season is complete. The national runner-up Wildcats did not have a senior run on Friday and return all seven runners for the 2019 season.