Kansas City, MO – Coming off one of the most dominant conference performances in program history, the University of the Cumberlands men's cross country team holds strong at No. 3 in the final NAIA Coaches' Poll, announced Tuesday. The Patriots' top-three ranking marks their highest position entering the national championships and caps an undefeated regular season against NAIA competition. 

Cumberlands secured their third consecutive Mid-South Conference Championship last weekend, posting a perfect team score of 15 points after sweeping the top six individual spots in the Men's 8K. With this conference title, the Patriots secure an automatic bid into the NAIA National Championship. 

The performance was headlined by freshman Ishak Mekideche, who earned both MSC Runner of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors after clocking a winning time of 25:36.18. 

Joining Mekideche in the top five were Ryan Ehrler (2nd, 25:39.17), Niklas Scherb (3rd, 25:50.33), Noah Loeser (4th, 25:59.15), and Hauke Trost (5th, 26:10.14) to secure the Patriots' perfect team score. Casey DeSilvey (6th, 26:13.79) rounded out the sweep, with all six earning First Team All-Conference honors. 

The Patriots' consistency throughout the season, highlighted by multiple team titles and a conference three-peat, solidified their position among the nation's elite. Head Coach Bradley Sowder was named MSC Coach of the Year, his third straight honor, after leading Cumberlands to another statement victory. 

The Master's (Calif.) remains in the top spot of the poll while Indiana Wesleyan, Taylor (Ind.), and Saint Mary (Kan.) round out the top five. 

With the final poll released, UC now turns its attention to the NAIA National Championships, set for November 21 in Tallahassee, Florida. Cumberlands will be the only team representing the Mid-South Conference. The Patriots will look to carry their momentum into nationals and chase the first red banner in program history. 

For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics. Please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter- @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameday, Instagram- @UCPatriots, TikTok- @ucpatriots, Youtube- Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.