Kansas City, MO – The University of the Cumberlands men's cross country team maintained their position at No. 3 in the latest NAIA Men's Cross Country Coaches' Poll, released Thursday by the national office. 

The Patriots are coming off a dominant showing at the NAIA Appalachian Challenge in Knoxville, Tennessee, where they captured the team title out of 20 programs. UC tallied an impressive 33 points in the 8K race, which featured 202 runners and multiple nationally ranked opponents. 

UC displayed exceptional pack running, placing all seven runners inside the top 20 overall. Ryan Ehrler led the charge with a runner-up finish, crossing the line in 24:22.41, which ranks as the fastest 8K time by a Patriot this season and the seventh fastest in program history. 

Cumberlands totaled 530 points in this week's poll. The Master's (Calif.) holds the top spot, followed by Indiana Wesleyan, Taylor (Ind.), and Saint Mary (Kan.) rounding out the top five. 

UC will return to competition at the Mid-South Conference Championships on Friday, November 7 in Bowling Green, Kentucky.  

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