Nov. 17, 2007

KENOSHA, Wis. - Malone College (Ohio) placed three runners in the top 10 to capture the 2007 NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championship Saturday, Nov. 17 at Dr. Wayne E. Dannehl Cross Country Course in Kenosha, Wisconsin.  This is the second national title for the Pioneers.

Malone College, this year's favorite to win the championship, finished with 59 points and defeated the runner-up Black Hills State (S.D.) by 144 points.  The Yellow Jackets placed two runners in the top 15.

Lindenwood (Mo.) (211), Simon Fraser (B.C.) (228), Cornerstone (Mich.) (236), Aquinas (Mich.) (239), Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (293), Union (Tenn.) (298), California State-San Marcos (300) and Concordia (Calif.) (309) rounded out the top 10.

Aron Rono of Azusa Pacific (Calif.) crossed the finish line with a time of 23:52.1 to capture the individual title.  A junior from Kapsabet, Kenya won his first NAIA cross country championship after finishing third last year.  Ryan Kienzle of Malone finished second while Noah Too of MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), the 2006 runner-up, placed third.  Aaron Melhorn, Malone and Henry Rop, Union (Tenn.) crossed the finish line fourth and fifth respectively.

The 2007 Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year honors went to Jack Hanez of Malone College.  He also earned the honors in 1972 after leading the Pioneers to their first title.

Malone College and Black Hills State also earned the team awards after compiling the lowest combined scores at the national championships. 

2007 NAIA National Championship Team Results

2007 NAIA National Championship Individual Results

2007 NAIA National Championship Team Times