CROSS COUNTRY

The Forester cross country program is packing their bags for Vancouver (Wash.) to compete in the 2019 NAIA Cross Country Championships as announced last night by the NAIA national office. Both races will take place at Fort Vancouver on Friday, November 22.

It’s the first time since 1999 that both the HU men and women will be competing as a team on the big stage. The fall of 1999 marks the highest finish in program history for both teams with the men claiming 6th and the women finishing 15th.

On the men’s side, it will be HU’s sixth appearance at nationals with their last trip dating back to 2011 when they placed 23rd. The Foresters, ranked 10th in the final regular season poll, received the third of 12 at-large berths. In all, 37 teams and 81 individuals will compete in the 64th annual men’s event.

Huntington is one of three Crossroads League teams that will be competing at nationals. Indiana Wesleyan received the league’s only automatic bid as the conference champions while Taylor, like HU, received an at-large bid.

For the women, this fall will be the program’s seventh appearance at nationals having most recently competed in 2012 when they finished 20th.

The 16th-ranked Foresters received the fifth of 11 at-large berths. Thirty-seven teams and 89 individual qualifiers will be represented in the women’s 5K. Like the men, the same three Crossroads League teams will be represented at the 40th annual women’s event.

Fans can watch the post-race ceremony free. To link to access the live video stream of the ceremony is https://portal.stretchinternet.com/naia/.