Ohio's Malone College placed three runners in the top 10 to capture the 2007 NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championship 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 (Califorinia) 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 (24:24) of Malone finished second while Noah Too (24:34) of Mid America Nazarene (Kansas), the 2006 runner-up, placed third. Aaron Melhorn (24:44), Malone and Henry Rop (24:48), Union (Tennessee) crossed the finish line fourth and fifth respectively.

Women

KENOSHA, Wis. - Simon Fraser (B.C.) defeated Cedarville (Ohio) by 46 points to win the NAIA Women's Cross Country Championship Saturday, Nov. 17 at Dr. Wayne E. Dannehl Cross Country Course in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The Clan won their fifth straight and 10th overall title.

Simon Fraser posted a score of 99 points while Cedarville had 145 points and was runner-up for the second straight season. Milligan (Tennessee) (163), Malone (Ohio) (164), British Columbia (227), Azusa Pacific (Calif.) (244), Wayland Baptist (Texas) (244), Black Hills State (South Dokata) (255), Indiana Tech (319) and Northwester (Iowa) (334) all finished in the top 10.

Jaime Canterbury (17:10) of Azusa Pacific won the individual title, finishing four second ahead of teammate Jacky Kipwambok. Olivia Johnson (17:46) of Northwestern, Jessica Smith (17:47) of Simon Fraser (B.C.) and Charity Miles (17:49) of Northwestern rounded out the top five. ________

The Malone men's team was comprised of all Ohio runners. They were led by Ryan Kienzle's (Glen Oak) individual runner-up placing in a time of 24:24 at the Kenosha Wisconsin course. Aaron Melhorn (Fairless) was 4th in 24:44, and Nick Scheiwegert (Beavercreek) 12th in 25:06. Chris Sinick (Field) was the final All American in 26th place in 25:25. Freshman James Zeuch (Galion) just missed the honor with a place of 33 in 25:34. Senior Mike Coates (Sandy Valley) 25:42 and Paul Robinson (Field) 26:28 rounded out the squad. Cedarville's men finished 25th

For more coverage on the Cross Country Championships check out the National News on RUNOHIO's web site: www.runohio.com