Warriors remain in NAIA's Top 30 in latest poll

October 10, 2007

For the seventh time in the past two seasons, Corban's women's cross country team finds itself ranked in the NAIA coaches' poll when the announced was made earlier today. (Photo courtesy of Tim Seiber, Corban Sports Information)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the second straight week, Corban's women's cross country team is ranked among the nation's elite and finds itself at No. 30 in the latest NAIA coaches' poll that was released earlier today by the national office.

Despite not competing last week in preparation for the annual Warner Pacific/Cascade Open this weekend and the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships in two weeks, the Warriors remained in the minds of the regional voters and received 13 votes from coaches around the nation.

For the second straight week, Corban remains as one of three Cascade Collegiate Conference schools, along with Albertson (No. 18) and Eastern Oregon (No. 20), to be ranked in the top 30 nationally. The trio also joins three fellow NAIA Region I counterparts -- four-time defending NAIA champions Simon Fraser (No. 1), British Columbia (No. 6), and Lewis-Clark State (No. 17) -- in this week's poll.

Two weekends ago, the Warriors finished 12th overall at the Charles Bowles Invitational hosted by NCAA Division III member and cross-town rival Willamette. The finish was the highest ever for the Corban women's cross country team at the event, as senior Danielle Jordan (Medford, Ore.) led the charge with a 27th place finish individually.

In the short six-year history of the program, this is the seventh time ever that head coach Norm Berney and Corban's women's cross country team has been ranked in the NAIA coaches' poll. The highest ranking in program history came last season when the final poll was released with the Warriors standing at No. 16 nationally. Along with last season's final poll ranking and today's announcement, the Warriors' national ranking history have Corban ranked No. 26 (Oct. 3, 2007), No. 29 (Aug. 22, 2007), No. 33 (Oct. 18, 2006), No. 34 (Oct. 25, 2006), and No. 35 (Oct. 4, 2006).

Corban will return to the course this Saturday, October 13th, when the Warriors take part in the annual Warner Pacific/Cascade Open at Lents Park in Portland beginning at 10:00 a.m.

For the complete NAIA rankings, visit http://naia.cstv.com/sports/w-xc/spec-rel/101007aab.html.