KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Indiana Wesleyan men's cross country graduate student, Josh Bainbridge, was named the NAIA Male Runner of the Week, as announced by the NAIA on Wednesday. This is his first NAIA Runner of the Week honor of the season and the first of his career.

Bainbridge placed fourth individually at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo., leading Indiana Wesleyan to a win in a loaded field, earning NAIA Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week accolades for Oct. 1. He was the top NAIA runner in the race, four seconds ahead of Columbia (Mo.) junior Kalieb Redda, and his fourth-place finish came from a field of 251 student-athletes from across five different association affiliations in collegiate cross country. 

The Wildcats were the top team in the 8K Open race, more than 100 points better than the next-nearest NAIA program, Park (Mo.), as the Pirates finished fifth. In all, IWU collected wins over five other NAIA programs in the field of 20 teams. The Wildcats have now won back-to-back races to start the 2025 season, also finishing in front of a field of 20 at the IWU Twilight, Sept. 5. 

"Josh has been working his tail off," said Brody Beiler, Head Cross Country Coach. "He's currently working a full time job, just got engaged, and is putting in hard work. More important, he's running with joy & being grateful for the gift he's been given."

The No. 2-ranked Wildcats will travel to Taylor University for the Ray Bullock Invitational on Friday, October 10.

To view the full release from the NAIA, click HERE.






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