MONMOUTH, Ore. - Northwest Nazarene cross country had another great Saturday on the course, racing to second as a team on the men's side and fourth on the women's side at the Mike Johnson Classic hosted by Western Oregon.

The men were just edged out by seventh-ranked Chico State in the 8k race, with the Wildcats totaling 34 points to the Nighthawks' 40. NNU was led by the trio of Brody Kemble (23:40.30), Grady Mylander (23:40.60), and Ian Stockett (23:54.80), who swept the podium for the Nighthawks. However, Chico State had all five counting runners finish in the top nine in the race, leading to their slightly lower overall score.

The Nighthawks were the highest placing GNAC school, with Alaska Anchorage third, Western Oregon fourth, and Seattle Pacific seventh.

The win marks Kemble's third in as many races this year, as the senior is off to a red-hot start to his final cross country campaign. 

After the trio at the top, NNU's next placer was Neftali Menendez, who was 13th and scored 11 points with a time of 24:28.30. The Nighthawks' final scorer was Christian Gump, who finished 32nd (23 points) with a time of 25:00.80.

The NNU women placed fourth out of 14 teams in the 6k race, surpassing fellow GNAC schools Western Oregon (sixth) and Seattle Pacific (seventh) in a great showing. 

Leading the way was Hazel Kunkel, who just missed out on a top ten finish as her time of 21:25.60 was good enough for 11th overall and eight points. Zoey Stauffer was not too far behind, placing 15th (12 points) with a time of 21:30.70. Morgan Erler was next for NNU, finishing 21st (18 points) at 21:45.20.

McKenna Lechner (37th, 32 points) and Ella Bartlett (62nd, 48 points) rounded out the scorers for the women.

The Nighthawks now set their sights on the Whitman Invite, held in Walla Walla, Washington on Saturday, Oct. 4.