KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – In what can only be called the strongest conference race in the NAIA, the Bushnell men's cross country team took seventh place on Friday at the CCC Championship, behind six teams all ranked in the NAIA Top-25.
 
"The coaching staff is very proud of our team," said head coach Tom Boldon. "The effort they put forward after the last couple of weeks full of injuries and sickness was amazing."
 
Leading the way for the Beacons was freshman Noah Mancione, taking 50th place with a time of 28:23.70. Boldon said, "Noah continues to amaze me. He ran a very smart and consistent race to be our top overall finisher.
 
Seniors Andrew Mitchell (pictured) and Linus Rueegger followed in 56th and 57th. Mitchell, fresh off the end of the men's soccer season, was Bushnell's second runner after just four days of practice. For Rueegger, the finish was a bit of a disappointment, but as Boldon explained, "Linus fell at about 400 meters into the race and was trampled on. By the time he got up and back to his feet, he was quite a way back from the pack he would normally be in. He worked hard for the rest of the race, but it was too much to overcome."
 
Sophomores Gabe Fatooh and Christopher Rosebrook finished in 61st and 68th respectively to round out the scoring. Connor Woodcock (72nd) and Quaid Ferguson (81st) also ran for the Beacons.
 
Bushnell scored 244 points in the race, and claimed a narrow but significant five-point margin over Corban University. It was the Beacons first time topping the Warriors in three tries this season and puts them in position to potentially earn a spot in the NAIA National Championship in two weeks.
 
The Cascade Collegiate Conference hosts the championship at Fort Vancouver in Vancouver, Washington, and owns a host berth, which is awarded to the next-highest finishing team that does not earn an at-large qualification to the race. With all six teams above Bushnell currently ranked in the Top-25, there is a chance that all of them earn an at-large bid on their own.
 
The final field for the championship will be announced on Tuesday.