Grace Secures Bid To Host NCCAA Cross Country Championships
June 23, 2023 at 11:54 p.m.
Grace Secures Bid To Host NCCAA Cross Country Championships
By Josh Neuhart-
The championships will be held at the Warsaw Community High School cross country course.
Dan Wood, NCCAA Executive Director said, “It is exciting to partner with Bethel University and Grace College for the next two years of NCCAA Cross Country National Championships. We know that the student-athletes, coaches, and spectators who travel to Warsaw will have a memorable experience.”
It will mark Grace’s seventh national championship sport it has hosted for the NCCAA. Grace has hosted the Div. I women’s basketball championships since 2009 and added the men’s basketball tournament in 2012. Grace has also hosted the Div. I men’s and women’s outdoor track and field championships for two years as well. From 2009-24 Grace will have hosted 39 separate NCCAA national tournaments.
The 2023 men’s and women’s Div. I and II national championship races are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 10.
Warsaw’s course is a mixed environment of grassy open fields and wooded trails. The spectator friendly course consists of an outer and inner loop over slightly rolling grassy terrain, as well as two separate wooded trail loops. The course is wide enough to run 3 abreast at all times, and the set up allows student-athletes to see and be encouraged by teammates several times throughout the course.
“Bethel is very excited to host the NCCAA Cross Country National Championships,” stated Bethel University Athletic Director Tony Natali. “I am passionate about the NCCAA and all the aspects that it values. Bethel and the NCCAA share a love for Christ and this will be a great opportunity to demonstrate that.”
Teams from across the country will compete in these events and will also have the opportunity to serve the local community through a Christian Service Project (CSP). Details of the CSP will be released closer to the event date.
Chad Briscoe, Director of Athletics at Grace College, said, “We are excited to partner with Bethel University to bring these NCCAA National Championships to northern Indiana. I appreciate all the work by Bethel’s head coach Ryan Sommers and Grace’s head coach Jake Poyner to oversee the many details it takes to host these events. We also appreciate Dr. David Hoffert, Superintendent of Warsaw Community Schools, and Matt Binkerd, WCHS Athletic Director, for allowing us to use their fantastic cross country course for these championship races. We look forward to welcoming many fans to Warsaw and pray it will be a great experience for all who are able to attend!”
The championships will be held at the Warsaw Community High School cross country course.
Dan Wood, NCCAA Executive Director said, “It is exciting to partner with Bethel University and Grace College for the next two years of NCCAA Cross Country National Championships. We know that the student-athletes, coaches, and spectators who travel to Warsaw will have a memorable experience.”
It will mark Grace’s seventh national championship sport it has hosted for the NCCAA. Grace has hosted the Div. I women’s basketball championships since 2009 and added the men’s basketball tournament in 2012. Grace has also hosted the Div. I men’s and women’s outdoor track and field championships for two years as well. From 2009-24 Grace will have hosted 39 separate NCCAA national tournaments.
The 2023 men’s and women’s Div. I and II national championship races are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 10.
Warsaw’s course is a mixed environment of grassy open fields and wooded trails. The spectator friendly course consists of an outer and inner loop over slightly rolling grassy terrain, as well as two separate wooded trail loops. The course is wide enough to run 3 abreast at all times, and the set up allows student-athletes to see and be encouraged by teammates several times throughout the course.
“Bethel is very excited to host the NCCAA Cross Country National Championships,” stated Bethel University Athletic Director Tony Natali. “I am passionate about the NCCAA and all the aspects that it values. Bethel and the NCCAA share a love for Christ and this will be a great opportunity to demonstrate that.”
Teams from across the country will compete in these events and will also have the opportunity to serve the local community through a Christian Service Project (CSP). Details of the CSP will be released closer to the event date.
Chad Briscoe, Director of Athletics at Grace College, said, “We are excited to partner with Bethel University to bring these NCCAA National Championships to northern Indiana. I appreciate all the work by Bethel’s head coach Ryan Sommers and Grace’s head coach Jake Poyner to oversee the many details it takes to host these events. We also appreciate Dr. David Hoffert, Superintendent of Warsaw Community Schools, and Matt Binkerd, WCHS Athletic Director, for allowing us to use their fantastic cross country course for these championship races. We look forward to welcoming many fans to Warsaw and pray it will be a great experience for all who are able to attend!”
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