TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Indiana Wesleyan men's cross country claimed their first red banner in program history on Friday morning at the 2025 NAIA National Championships. The Wildcats had five runners place in the top 40 as the team combined for a score of 117 points. After four-straight years finishing in the top 5, IWU reached new heights this season with a national title.
 
Josh Bainbridge, Grant Flora, Trenton Sweet, Braden Sweet, and Hunter Wasnich raced for All-American finishes for the Wildcats. Josh Bainbridge finished 8^th with a time of 24:38, and Grant Flora was 25^th with a time of 25:02. Trenton Sweet, Braden Sweet, and Hunter Wasnich rounded out the top 5 scorers for IWU.

Brody Bieler was named the NAIA Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year, and both the men's and the women's teams together earned a 4th-place finish in the combined trophy standings.


WILDCAT TOP 7

• FULL RESULTS
• 8 – Josh Bainbridge – 24:38.0
• 25 – Grant Flora – 25:02.9
• 33 – Trenton Sweet – 25:09.3
• 36 – Braden Sweet – 25:10.6
• 37 – Hunter Wasnich – 25:10.8
• 197 – Evan Long – 26:38.0
• 311 – Alec Foster – 30:51.9

TOP 5 TEAMS

1. Indiana Wesleyan – 117 (8-20-28-30-31)
2. The Master's – 128 (1-6-32-40-49)
3. Cumberlands (Ky.)  – 160 (5-9-39-53-54)
4. Rocky Mountain  – 239 (19-38-43-65-74)
5. Taylor – 247 (23-25-45-58-96)

BEILER PERSPECTIVE

• "This has been a special season from the beginning," said Head Coach Brody Beiler. "All 27 guys pursued excellence everyday, chasing after the Lord with all their hearts. They fixed their eyes on Jesus, and ran free. The 40 years of foundation of Coach Foss loving, serving, and pouring his heart out to the program led to this moment, and I believe this is just the tip of the iceberg."

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