The NAIA Women's Cross Country Coaches' Postseason Top 25 Poll has been released.

The Grand View women's cross country team entered the NAIA Top 25 Ranking the first time in program history after concluding the National Championship last weekend in 25th place as a team. The Vikings' Obsie Birru captured the individual title with a time of 17:15, becoming the first runner from Grand View to ever accomplish the feat.

Grand View was the only school new to the Top 25 Poll. The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences/independents/unaffiliated groups. Complete Top 25 release.

It was a fitting end to the career of the most decorated runner in the history of the Grand View women's cross country program. After finishing 18^th, eighth, and third at the NAIA Women's Cross Championships in the three previous years, Grand View senior Obsie Birru (Johnston, Iowa) has become a National Champion.

Birru finished first in the field of 323 runners at the NAIA women's Cross Country Championship held today in Vancouver, Washington.  She led the race start to finish and completed the 5k in a school record 17:15. Birru finished nine seconds in front of runner-up Lauren Jimison of Azusa Pacific.

Four members of the Grand View women's cross country team have been named to the MCC All-Conference Team announced today.

After finishing in the top seven at the MCC Championships last weekend, three were named to the MCC First Team – seniors Obsie Birru (Des Moines, Iowa), Kara Keller (Middletown, Iowa), and Sadie Fisher (Lehigh, Iowa).   Senior Betsy Craig (West Point, Iowa) was selected to the Honorable Mention Team.

For the fourth straight year, Birru was deemed the MCC Harrier of the Year. Birru won her fourth consecutive MCC title last weekend.

Viking Head Coach Jerry Monner was chosen by his peers as the MCC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year after guiding his team to its first MCC Championship and first-ever NAIA Championship appearance.  The Vikings women will compete at the NAIA Championships for the first time in the program's history on November 19^th in Vancouver, Washington. 

The Viking women's cross country competed today at the MCC Championships hosted by Clarke University in Dubuque. The Vikings won its first-ever conference team title to qualify for nationals and senior Obsie Birru (Des Moines, Iowa) captured her fourth straight individual title and Harrier of the Year honors.

Birru completed the race in 18:00.9, over a minute in front of second place finisher Bea Foley of Viterbo. Senior Kara Keller (Middletown, Iowa) placed fourth in 20:01.5 and Sadie Fisher was right behind Keller, finishing fifth in 20:06.2. Birru, Keller and Fisher all earned MCC All-Conference recognition.

Senior Betsy Craig (West Point, Iowa) came in 14^th(20:46.3) and junior Alicia Dean (McPherson, Kan.) was 17^th(21:01.6) to round out the top five runners and national qualifiers for Grand View. Craig's top-15 finish earned her MCC Honorable Mention honors.
 

Grand View senior Obsie Birru (Des Moines, Iowa) has been selected as the NAIA National Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week announced Wednesday. It is Birru's third national weekly honor; she was also the NAIA Women's Track Athlete of the Week in both February and April of 2011.

Birru broke Grand View's 5K record and established a personal-best 17:30.24 to capture top honors at the Mid-States Classic hosted by Southwestern (Kan.) last Saturday.

The senior crossed the finish line 39 seconds ahead of Baker's (Kan.) Lauren Jaqua. Behind the Des Moines, Iowa native's efforts, the Vikings took home fifth place as a team with 135 points. The combined time between the five Grand View runners of 1:36.13 also set a new school record.