2024 Heart Cross Country Conference Championships Preview

The Heart of America Athletic Conference will host the 2024 Heart Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships this Saturday, November 9 at the Seminole Valley Cross Country Course in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The event is hosted by Mount Mercy University.

The cross country course is located at 5925 Seminole Valley Trail NE, Cedar Rapids, IA – 524111

One of the premier cross country courses in the country, Seminole Valley, will host 13 Heart teams in the men's and women's race.

The women's 6K race will begin at 11 am, while the men's 8K race will begin at 11:45 am. An awards ceremony will follow.

Individual awards will also be handed out after the races. Runners who finish in the Top 10 of each race will be named to the Heart First Team All-Conference. Finishers 11-15, will earn a spot on the Honorable Mention All-Conference teams. 

Benedictine College impressively won both the men's and women's cross country championships a year ago at Seminole Valley.

On the women's side, Benedictine has won four-straight Heart Women's Cross Country championships.

The BC men are looking to go back-to-back.

Tickets are also available at this link: CLICK HERE

Tickets are $5 per vehicle.

LIVE RESULTS: CLICK HERE

Fans can view photos from the event, by clicking here.

About the venue:

Seminole Valley Park became the home of Mount Mercy cross country in 2015 and hosted the 2018 and 2020 NAIA Cross Country National Championships, as well as the 2021, 2023 and 2024 Heart of America Cross Country Championships.

The course, designed and built by Mount Mercy University and the Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department, provides runners with natural park-like settings, mowed fields and wetland areas. It has multiple loops and a layout that serves 4K, 5K, 6K, and 8K races for high school and collegiate-level events.

Below is also a look at the Heart women's cross country rankings heading into the Heart Championship. 

Women's Collegiate 2024 Heart of America (NAIA) 6,000 Meters Cross Country Performance List
Https://www.athletic.net/ CrossCountry/rankings/list/ 73091/f/6000 

1. Benedictine University- NAIA Ranked #20
2. Mount Mercy University- NAIA Ranked #22
3. Central Methodist University
4. Baker University
5. Mid-America Nazarene University 
6. Clarke University
7. Culver-Stockton College
8. Graceland University
9. Grand View University
10. Park University
11. Peru State College
12. William Penn University
13. Missouri Valley College

Below is also a look at the Heart men's cross country rankings heading into the Heart Championship. 

Men's Collegiate 2024 Heart of America (NAIA) 6,000 Meters Cross Country Performance List

https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/rankings/list/73091/m/8000