COLUMBIA, Mo. – MACU Men's Cross Country freshman runner Jaden Rodriguez made a strong impression in the program's first ever showing at the NAIA National Championships at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course on Friday morning as he turned in the program's second-fastest 8k time of 25:31.8 to finish in the top half of the championship field.
Out of the 331 runners competing in the meet, Rodriguez placed 154th while is time of 25:31.8 shattered the second-best mark he set just a week ago at the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Championships, where he earned NCCAA All-American honors after placing sixth with a time of 25:53.0.
With his mark, former Bridge Creek High School standout now owns MACU's top four spots in the program's 8k record book after setting the record two weeks ago in the Sooner Athletic Conference Championships at Eldon Lyon Park on Nov. 9 when he crossed the finish line in eighth with a time of 25:16.1. The result made him the MACU Men's Cross Country team's first ever All-SAC honoree.
Mid-America Christian has now wrapped up its second cross country season after returning as a program in 2023. The Evangels will now make preparations for the spring as MACU is planning to compete in both indoor and outdoor track & field events.
