For the first time in school history, both the Southern Oregon men and women's cross country squads will be competing at the NAIA National Championships. 

The SOU men received an automatic berth, while the SOU women earned an at-large berth for the championships to be held Nov. 13 20 at Vancouver, Wash. 

The Southern Oregon men finished the year ranked No. 1 in the final NAIA Top 25 poll after claiming their third straight Cascade Conference Championship. Last year the Raiders finished a program-best third at the NAIA Nationals and return every member of that team. 

Joining the Raiders from the Cascade Conference will be Eastern Oregon, College of Idaho and Concordia. 

The SOU women will be making the program's first team appearance at the Nationals. The Raiders finished second at the Cascade Conference Championships last week in Klamath Falls. The Raiders are ranked 10th in the final NAIA Top 25 poll. 

Concordia and College of Idaho will also race at the Nationals.

By Bobby Heiken, Southern Oregon University