KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Montreat College men's cross country team appeared in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men's Cross Country Coaches' Top 25 for the 43rd consecutive instance. Released on Thursday morning, the Cavaliers received 120 points to rank 26th overall.
Montreat finished nine points behind Taylor (Ind.) and 31 points ahead of Columbia (Mo.) in the latest ratings. Fellow Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) member Milligan (Tenn.) led all AAC programs, climbing to sixth with 479 points. Cumberlands (Ky.) maintained the top spot, earning all 20 first-place votes for 560 points.
The Cavs are coming off a strong showing at the NAIA Appalachian Challenge in Knoxville, Tenn., where they placed fifth among 24 teams. Ryan Stade led Montreat with a 10th-place finish in a field of 249 competitors, setting a personal record with a time of 24:16.37. Freshman Angel Cruz finished 18th, establishing personal and program freshman records with a mark of 24:46.24.
For the complete 2026 NAIA Men's Cross Country Coaches' Top 25, click here.
The Montreat College men's cross country team will next compete at the AAC Cross Country Championships on Friday, Nov. 6, in Knoxville, Tenn. Race time is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. at Sequoyah Park.
