KANSAS CITY, Mo. - For the first time since 2021, the Marian men's cross country team is headed to the NAIA National Championships, as the Knights earned an at-large bid in Monday's qualifier release. Marian's bid comes a handful of days after the program's fourth place finish at last Friday's Crossroads League Championship meet.

The final field for the 69th annual NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championship has been released as 36 teams and 80 individuals have qualified. The field will prepare to race on Friday, November 22, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. CT at the Columbia, Mo., Gans Creek Cross Country Course. 

Qualifier Notes

• 2024's championship will be the first to take place in Columbia, Mo.
• This year's field comprises 22 automatic qualifiers and 14 at-large berths. A team may qualify with an automatic berth by winning its conference championship meet or as the runner-up in the championship meet provided the conference has 12 or more schools and the runner-up is rated in the top 30 of the final NAIA Men's Cross Country rating, which is found HERE
• The 14 at-large berths were determined by the final NAIA Men's Cross Country rating and reviewed by the NAIA Men's Cross Country Oversight Committee.
• In addition to the team qualifiers, 80 individuals qualified for the championship based on their scoring finish at their respective conference meet. 
• The Crossroads League boasts the highest number of team qualifiers in the 2024 field with five teams: Grace (Ind.), Indiana Wesleyan, Marian (Ind.), Taylor (Ind.) and Spring Arbor (Mich.).

Marian will enter the NAIA Championship as the No. 17 team in the NAIA, as they dropped back one spot in the latest ratings released on Monday. Marian's team is led by their three All-Crossroads League honorees, Tristan Trevino, Clark Chustz, and Charles Leedke. Behind the three All-Crossroads League placers, Marian will send Benjamin Moster, Benjamin Riehle, Aaron Broderick, and Adam Heitz as their top-seven to the national championship.

Marian will compete for an NAIA Championship on Friday, November 22, at 11:30 a.m. ET. The meet will be held at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Missouri. The course is the official course of the Missouri Tigers cross country teams.

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