COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Seniors Nate Mann and Lydia Peters were the first across the line for the Chadron State men's and women's cross country teams as the Eagle women placed 12^th at the RMAC Cross Country Championships while the men's team placed 13^th.

The Chadron State women's team recorded 386 points and equaled their 12^th-place finish from last year's meet, which itself had been the program's highest since 2017. The men scored 357 points, and their 13^th-place finish is one spot higher than at least year's championships and equals the program's place from 2023.

Redshirt senior and Queen Creek, Arizona native Nate Mann, who made his return to the RMAC Championships after utilizing a redshirt year last season, was the Eagles' top placer on the day, crossing the line 56^th and scoring 50 team points by running the men's 8K race in 26:20.06. 

The women's team ran closely together, with all five scoring runners placing in the top 85 and four Eagles scoring between 76-85 points. Peters ran out in front of the main Eagle pack to finish the 6K women's race in 23:33.4, crossing the line 71^st and scoring 62 team points for CSC. 

The group of Eagle scoring runners included Samantha Rodewald, last season's top RMAC finisher who crossed the 2025 race in 24:02.48 for 76 points and 86^th place, as well as Kyndall Carnahan (24:19.06, 93^rd, 81 points), Katelyn Beshara (24:19.07, 94^th, 82 points), and Izabella Miller (24:29.42, 97^th, 85 points).

Behind Mann, Sheridan, Wyoming's Blaine Johnson was the CSC men's No. 2 runner on the day, finishing 68^th for 60 scoring points and a time of 26:41.00. Mann and Johnson both set new collegiate best times at the 8K distance. 

Freshman Kaden Boltz was the third Eagle runner to finish, taking 79^th place for 71 scoring points and running the distance in 27:03.74. There was some distance between Boltz and the rest of the male Eagle runners, with Adam Beard a minute behind in 28:17.76, good for 103^rd place and 86 team points. Boady Hunter, one of two true freshmen in CSC's top five along with Boltz, crossed in 28:45.40 for 108^th place and 89^th place. 

Other CSC athletes who competed but did not factor into team scoring were: on the men's side, Miles Mitchell (28:56.06), Mizaiha Babers Webb (30.04.81), Andrew Walsh (30:40.86) and David West (34:32.0), and on the women's side, Paige Kehmeier (25:12.89), Ivy Hise (25:20.66) and Zelma Rudd. Both races had a total of 125 competitors.

Next up for most of the Eagles is the NCAA South Central Regional Championships in Pueblo, Colorado on Saturday, November 8. Some of CSC's roster may compete in the Bauer XC Classic next Saturday, November 1. At regionals, Chadron State will be competing in the hopes of qualifying either a team or an individual for the NCAA National Championships on November 22 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.