By: Continental Conference Sports Information

Lawrence, KS -  Haskell Indian Nations University (Kansas) literally ran away with the 2023 Continental Athletic Conference Men’s Cross Country championship, having five of the top eight finishers in Friday’s meet on its home Billy Mills Course in Lawrence, Kansas.

Haskell Indian Nations tallied 22 points to outdistance College of the Ozarks (Missouri), 51 points; Florida National University, 81 points; Florida College, 86 points; Penn State Schuylkill, 142 points; and Washington Adventist University of Maryland, 168 points.

Haskell Indian Nations’ Jaiven Hale repeated as the CAC individual champion, earning Runner of the Year awards, after covering the 8-kilometer course in 26:35.4. He edged teammate Dyami Berridge across the finish line by seven seconds.

The team also had strong performances from Jonathan Fragua, who placed fifth with a 28:10.4 time; Jaylan McCoy-Bark, sixth; and Burton Miner III, eighth. Hale, Berridge, and Fragua earned all-CAC honors for their strong finishes.

College of the Ozarks was paced by Tanner Bailey, third in 26:55, and Drew Rose, seventh in 28:15.1.

Kristian Bodden of Florida National earned all-conference honors with a fourth-place finish in 26:55.

Florida College’s Easton Dial and Josiah DeGeneffe finished ninth and 10th place, respectively, to garner second-team all-conference honors.

As CAC champions, Haskell Indian Nations advances to compete in the NAIA National Championship on November 17 in Vancouver, Washington. Individual national qualifiers, based on their strong CAC finishers, are College of the Ozarks’ Bailey and Rose, Florida College’s Dial, and Florida National’s Bodden.

2023 Continental Athletic Conference Men’s Cross Country Championship

Runner of the Year: Jaiven Hale, Haskell Indian Nations University

Individual National Qualifiers: Tanner Bailey, College of the Ozarks; Kristian Bodden, Florida National University; Drew Rose, College of the Ozarks; Easton Dial, Florida College

Team Standings

1. Haskell Indian Nations University, 22 points
2. College of the Ozarks, 51 points
3. Florida National University, 81 points
4. Florida College, 86 points
5. Penn State Schuylkill, 142 points
6. Washington Adventist University, 168 points

First-Team All-Conference (Top 5 Finishers)

Jaiven Hale, Haskell Indian Nations University

Dyami Berridge, Haskell Indian Nations University

Tanner Bailey, College of the Ozarks

Kristian Bodden, Florida National University

Jonathan Fragua, Haskell Indian Nations University

Second-Team All-Conference (6-10 Place Finishers)

Jaylan McCoy-Bark, Haskell Indian Nations University

Drew Rose, College of the Ozarks

Burton Miner III, Haskell Indian Nations University

Easton Dial, Florida College

Josiah DeGeneffe, Florida College