JOPLIN, Mo. — CIU Cross Country closed out its 2025 season on Friday at the NCCAA National Cross Country Championships, as the men's team placed seventh overall in the 8K while Elizabeth Gustafson represented the Rams on the women's side.

The Rams produced two of the top individual finishes in program history at the national meet. Josh Zhang led CIU with a 23rd-place finish, clocking a time of 27:02.9. Jacobo Garcia-Rivera followed close behind in 24th at 27:12.2 to give the Rams a strong 1–2 punch near the front of the field.

Rounding out CIU's scoring, Joey Canning finished in 29:13.2, Spencer Evans crossed in 30:22.5, and Mark Zagata posted a time of 32:22.2.

On the women's side, Gustafson capped her season with a top-35 finish, running 22:01.5 in the 5K.

The meet marks the conclusion of CIU's 2025 cross country campaign.