VANCOUVER, Wash. – After trekking across the United States, Sam Kiser looks to put together his top performance at the NAIA National Championships on Friday.
 
Kiser will toe the line at 2 p.m. ET with around 340 other competitors from around the NAIA.
 
Kiser, making his third NAIA Cross Country National Championship appearance, earned the bid after he placed fifth at the Mid-South Conference Championships with a 26:08.6 to make him the top individual qualifier from the conference.
 
In his previous NAIA appearances, Kiser has finished 240^thwith a 26:44.3 a year ago, and 177^thwith a 26:50, the last time he ran in Vancouver.
 
He enters the race coming off the NCCAA Championships, where he was able to place sixth with a 26:46.34. Kiser's personal best has come at the Greater Louisville Classic earlier this season as he was able to make a 25:30.5 to give him the fourth fastest time in CU history.
 
Kiser will be joined by Mid-South Conference opponents, Shawnee State as they claimed the team time at the MSC Championships. As individuals, Kiser will be side-by-side with Denis Kiplagat from Cumberland University, and Nicolas Grandperrin and Jarrett Forrest from the University of the Cumberlands.
 
Competitors will seek top 30 finishes to earn NAIA All-American honors, feats that have only been accomplished three times in CU history, with the most recent coming from Bret Crawford last season.
 
This meet will conclude the cross country season as the Tigers will now have time to rest before prepping for indoor track.