SAYLER CAPS OFF GREAT SEASON AT NAIA NATIONALS

Posted: Nov 17, 2023

Vancouver, Wash. – Caleb Sayler finished in 159^th out of 330 racers at the NAIA National Cross-Country Championships today. Sayler led the Tigers all season as a top male finisher and qualified for the national meet in the GPAC Conference meet.

How It Happened –

Results

159^th – Caleb Sayler: 26:42.4

Sayler traveled to Vancouver Washington as the only Tiger to qualify for the NAIA National Cross-Country Championship. This was the second time Sayler has competed in the National Meet. Caleb crossed the first 1k at about three minutes and kept his splits around three minutes and twenty seconds in the next three kilometers. Caleb slipped down into the 149^th position in the fifth kilometer in his second slowest split but improved in the next split as he cut ten seconds off and held his position. In the closing leg of the race, Sayler fell to the 159^th position and crossed with his time of 26:40.1.

Head Coach Matt Rosado's thoughts about Caleb and his race today, "Today's course was super tight and tough, it proved difficult to make any moves forward. I think Caleb had a hard time jumping into the top group and it cost us a lot of positions later in the race. Caleb battled and gave it his all to finish in front of a lot of other good runners. Although we came up short of our goal, his season has been nothing short of great."

This meet marks the end of the Tigers cross country season. "As we close out the cross-country season, I couldn't be any prouder of this group. They never once gave in or quit during the year. The growth in their confidence makes us all excited for their future at DWU." – Coach Rosado

Up Next for the Tigers –

"Now we head into the indoor season with an early December meet to get the most of this fall season and training. This is exciting for the cross-country squad as they get to compete into some speedier events where I believe they will continue improve and show themselves how much growth they have made this year, especially the freshman," Matt Rosado said this about the Tigers as they gear up for the indoor track season.