Photos: NAIA Cross Country National Championships

Mount Mercy University hosted the NAIA Cross Country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Colleges from around the country competed in the event, which included women’s and men’s races.

Runners sprint to the finish of the women's 5000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Runners compete in the women's 5000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Runners compete in the 5000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Mount Mercy's Kelsi Huhndorf (193) finishes the women's 5000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

A fan takes photos of the finish from atop a vehicle at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Friends University runners are covered in mud following the women's 5000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

a the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Volunteers applaud as Huntington University's Emma Wilson finishes first in the women's 5000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Wilson finished in 17 minutes, 2.86 seconds. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Kentucky Christian's Sierra Poppell finishes second in the women's 5000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Poppell finished in 17 minutes, 38.67 seconds. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Montana Tech's Becca Richtman (left) overtakes Embry-Riddle's Ariana Anderson (right) for third place in the women's 5000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

A runner takes a moment before the start of the men's 8000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

A runner ties his shoes before the start of the men's 8000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Runners huddle before the start of the men's 8000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Runners take off from the start of the men's 8000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Runners compete in the men's 8000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Oklahoma City's Zouhair Talbi (right) checks his time as teammate Shimales Abebe (left) keeps pace with him during the men's 8000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Runners sprint down the final stretch of the men's 8000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Mount Mercy's Chase Cress finishes the men's 8000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Mount Mercy's Ryan Clancy approaches the finish of the men's 8000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

A Corban runner struggles to the finish of the men's 8000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Spectators watch the finish of the men's 8000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Oklahoma City's Zouhair Talbi sprints to the finish in first place during the men's 8000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Zouhair finished in 23 minutes, 45.16 seconds. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Oklahoma City's Shimales Abebe finishes second in the men's 8000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Abebe finished in 24 minutes, 5.51 seconds. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Oklahoma City's Shimales Abebe (left) checks on teammates Sair Salgado (right) after the two finished second and fourth, respectively, in the men's 8000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

A Corban runner crawls to the finish of the men's 8000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Runners are covered in mud following the men's 8000-meter race at the NAIC national cross country championships at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 9, 2021. Teams from across the U.S. converged on the city to participate in the championship event. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)