NEW ORLEANS - For just the second time in program history, Northwest Nazarene men's cross country has been ranked in the USTFCCCA DII National Coaches' Poll.

The Nighthawks received a ranking of No. 22 in the nation in Wednesday's 2025 Preseason poll, which is also the highest that the Nighthawks' men's program has seen. The only other time that NNU's men's team was ranked was in the 2010 season, when they were slotted 25th in back-to-back weeks. 

NNU is also ranked fourth in the West Region, behind just Chico State (7th nationally), Western Washington (15th), and Cal Poly Pomona (18th). 

After their strong finish to the 2024 campaign with a runner-up finish at the GNAC Championships, four of the five runners who contributed to the Nighthawks' score at the championships are back this year in seniors Brody Kemble and Grady Mylander and juniors Ian Stockett and Asher Ingram.

With five other returners and nine newcomers, the Nighthawks will look to build on that finish and challenge for a GNAC title and NCAA Championships berth.