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2012-13 Postseason Success

Nationals Preview

11.18.11 | Men's Cross Country

Baker men look to make a mark nationally at NAIA National Championships

VANCOUVER, Wash. – The 56^th Annual NAIA Men’s and 32^nd Annual Women’s Cross Country National Championships will take place Saturday at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in Vancouver, Wash. The men’s 8K championship race will start at 10:30 a.m. PST, followed by the women’s 5K at 11:45 a.m.

Baker, the 2011 Heart of America Athletic Conference Champions will look to gain some respect on the national level this weekend. The Wildcats were on the verge of breaking into the NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll on numerous occasions throughout the season, but were never able to receive enough votes. Saturday they will have the chance to prove their doubters wrong.

“We definitely have a Top 25 team,” said head coach Zach Kindler. “We’re pretty fired up about it and I think we can go out there and show the rest of the nation we can be a pretty competitive squad.”

Junior Aaron Caldwell (Overland Park, Kan.) leads the Baker squad after taking fifth-place overall at the 2011 HAAC Championships. Juniors Corey Clark (Carrolton, Texas) and Taylor Nall (Shawnee, Kan.) are also coming of Top 10 finishes at the conference meet.

Other participants on the men’s side include: Seniors Chris Scheideman (Wamego, Kan.) and Justin Hill (Shawnee, Kan.), junior Eric Larson (Overland Park, Kan.) (Shawnee, Kan.) and freshman Vincent Tadokoro (Lee’s Summit, Mo.).

“This is going to be a great kickoff for us heading into next season,” Kindler said. “Our guys will be up for the challenge.

Live NAIA coverage of the event can be viewed here.