Virginia Intermont & Simon Fraser Repeat in
2005 naia Cross Country CHAMPIONSHIPS

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In the event's 50^th anniversary, Virginia Intermont College won its second consecutive NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championship while Lindenwood University's Soimo Kiplagat claimed his second individual title. In the women's race, senior Julia Howard won her first individual national championship with a time of 17:24.15 and she led her Simon Fraser University (B.C.) team to their third consecutive national championship. The 2005 National Championships were held at E.P. Tom Sawyer Park in Louisville, Kentucky.

 

Virginia Intermont recorded a team score of 52 and was paced by freshman Steve Gabart's 24:54.65 performance. Kiplagat, a sophomore, finished the 2005 event in a time of 23:49.10, faster than his 2004 time of 24:17.20. He and freshman teammate Aron Rono broke ahead of the pack early and Rono finished second with a time of 23:56.20. In third was freshman Endshaw Yimur at 24:33.35. Concordia University (Calif.) finished in second place with 122 points while Lindenwood University (Mo.) was third with 209 points.

 

For the fourth consecutive year, Virginia Intermont coach Scott Simmons earned National Coach of the Year honors. This is the second season for Simmons at Virginia Intermont as he led Minot State University (N.D.) to national championships in 2002 and 2003.

 

Simon Fraser won its eighth women's title by beating second place finisher Black Hills State University 74-190. University of British Columbia finished third in the team competition with 209 points. Individually, Genevieve Binsfield of Minot State University (N.D.) finished second with a time of 17:28.10 while Point Loma Nazarene University's (Calif.) Jasmine Marks was third at 17:35.95.

The 2005 Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year honors went to Brit Townsend of Simon Fraser for the third straight season.

 

This year marks the third year that the NAIA Cross Country Championships have been held in Louisville, Kentucky.

 

The Top 30 finishers in each meet are named All-American.

Men's Team Results | Men's Individual Results

Women's Team Results | Women's Individual Results