The NCCAA announced today the 2021-22 Men's and Women's Cross Country Scholar-Athletes. For Manhattan Christian College, two runners received this award. 

Senior Drew Will, a dual degree student, competed in all four meets in the reinstated season for the Thunder. Will is currently working towards his degree in Youth Ministry along with Human Development and Family Studies at Kansas State University. 

On the Women's side, senior Darby Cook was named. Cook unfortunately dealt with back issues that only allowed her to run in one meet this year. She is also a dual degree student who is studying Life Sciences with a Pre-Med emphasis at KSU, while getting a degree in Bible and Leadership at Manhattan Christian. 

"Both these athletes show great work ethic, either in the classroom or on the course. They both are high character students with a positive attitude in all they do," stated head coach Mindy Eckert.

The fall season came to a close back on October 30 with the runners competing at the Ozark Christian Last Chance Meet. 

In its first season back, since 2017, the Manhattan Christian College Cross Country teams are getting the 2021 season off to a great start. Having competed against some tough NAIA runners over the last few weeks has proven some difficulties but has made each runner improve. Over this past weekend at the Tabor College Cottonwood Challenge, Freshman Ian Uphoff qualified for the NCCAA Division II Championship Meet with an 8K time of 32:03.40.

Head coach Mindy Eckert, in her first year as the coach had this to say, “I’m excited and happy for Ian. Competing against some quick NAIA kids can be tough but also challenging and Ian took that head on. He ran his race and stayed focused on what he needed to do. I am very proud of all my runners here at MCC.”

Up next for the Thunder will be the Ozark Christian College Last Chance Meet October 30. Following that will be the National Champion Meet in Joplin, MO November 12.