KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The University of Tennessee Southern men's cross country team continued its rise on the national stage Thursday, climbing three spots to No. 7 in the NAIA Men's Cross Country Coaches' Top 25 Poll.
The ranking marks the highest national ranking in program history for the Firehawks, who entered the previous poll at No. 10 after earning the program's first-ever NAIA Top 25 ranking.
UT Southern was one of the biggest movers in the latest poll, joining Embry-Riddle and Trinity Western among the teams that climbed into the top eight nationally. The Firehawks now sit ahead of nationally recognized programs including Milligan, Saint Mary, Marian, St. Francis, and Rocky Mountain.
The rise comes after another historic performance at the Christian Brothers University Invitational, where UT Southern competed against a field loaded with NCAA Division I programs, including Arkansas State and UT Martin.
Leading the charge was sophomore Frankline Kipruto, who captured the individual championship and shattered his own school record in the 8K with a time of 23:30.7. Averaging 4:43.8 per mile, Kipruto became the only runner in the field to break the 24-minute mark while defeating competitors from Arkansas State and UT Martin.
As a team, the Firehawks recorded the fastest performance in program history. UT Southern finished third overall, just four points behind UT Martin and ahead of Montevallo, Christian Brothers, and Dyersburg State. The Firehawks' top-five runners averaged an impressive 24:56, the best team average ever recorded by the program.
The ranking is another milestone in a season already filled with historic achievements. UT Southern earned its first-ever national ranking earlier this year, defeated NAIA No. 4 Milligan at the Southern Showcase, produced multiple school records, and collected numerous conference honors.
NAIA Men's Cross Country Top 10
1. Cumberlands (Ky.)
2. Southern Oregon
3. Indiana Wesleyan
4. College of Idaho
5. The Master's (Calif.)
6. Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)
7. UT Southern
8. Trinity Western (B.C.)
9. Goshen (Ind.)
10.Cornerstone (Mich.)
With postseason competition rapidly approaching, the Firehawks continue to establish themselves among the NAIA's elite programs and as one of the top teams in the nation.
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