Tallahassee, FL – The University of the Cumberlands men's cross country team delivered one of the strongest national performances in program history on Friday, racing to a third-place podium finish at the NAIA National Championships with 160 points in the Men's 8K. This marks the third-straight season that UC's men earned third place, tying their highest finish in program history.

Freshmen Ishak Mekideche and Julius Makinen led the charge with two outstanding national debuts. Mekideche placed fifth overall in 24:34.6, while Makinen surged through the pack to finish 10th in 24:39.4. Both earned NAIA All-American honors, placing well inside the top 40. 

Junior Noah Loeser just missed All-American honors, crossing the line in 45th place (25:22.2) after a steady, composed race that provided crucial low points for the Patriots. 

Senior Noah McClellan, in the final XC race of his career, made a huge late-race push to place 62nd in 25:33.8, followed closely by sophomore Ryan Ehrler, who delivered a strong 63rd-place finish in 25:34.4 to lock in UC's top-five score. Freshmen Niklas Scherb (66th) and Casey DeSilvey (104th) rounded out the lineup as displacers. 

Indiana Wesleyan claimed the national title with 117 points behind an exceptionally tight scoring pack that placed all five runners inside the top 30. The Master's (Calif.) finished close behind with 128 points, powered by a 1–6 front duo, while Cumberlands secured the final podium spot with 160 points and three All-Americans. 

UC now looks ahead to the indoor track season, where they are looking to capture their second program NAIA National Championship after a runner-up finish last season. 

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