The NAIA Men’s and Women’s Cross Country National Championships are coming to Cedar Rapids this November. Mount Mercy University and Go Cedar Rapids will host the championships on Nov. 16, 2018, at Seminole Valley Cross Country Course in Cedar Rapids. The 2020 National Championships will also be contested at Seminole Valley.

As the host institution, Mount Mercy will receive one men’s and women’s automatic berth to the championship field in 2018 and 2020.

“This is an opportunity we’ve been looking forward to for several years,” said Paul Gavin ’88, MMU athletic director. “It will allow us to showcase two very exciting things—the history and growth of Mount Mercy University and the work that went into developing our home cross country course.”

Seminole Valley Park, the home of Mount Mercy cross country, will welcome approximately 600 runners along with 1,500 fans at each event. The venue will also host pre-meets each year, offering teams the opportunity to experience the course about a month in advance of nationals. ■