CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) cross country teams are set to compete at the NCAA Midwest Regional in Waverly, Iowa as Wartburg College serves as the host. The men's 8k will begin at 11:00 a.m. and the women's 6k will follow at 12:00 p.m.
On the men's side, there are five A-R-C teams ranked within the top ten in the Midwest, by the USTFCCCA. Wartburg is leading the charge ranked No. 1 regionally after compiling a perfect score at the A-R-C championship a few weeks ago in Dubuque, Iowa. Loras sits strong in fifth followed by Central at sixth, Simpson at seventh, and Nebraska Wesleyan at ninth. Joining the A-R-C teams in the top ten regionally are UChicago (No. 2, UAA), North Central (No. 3, CCIW), WashU (No. 4, UAA), Wheaton (No. 8, CCIW), and Grinnell (No. 10, Midwest).
The A-R-C has three teams holding a spot in the Midwest women's regional rankings, by the USTFCCCA. Wartburg sits the highest at No. 3 in the region followed by Central at No. 4 and Loras at No. 5. The UAA holds the two top spots in the regional rankings with UChicago at No. 1 and WashU at No. 2. Grinnell (No. 6) and Cornell (No. 8) represents the Midwest Conference. Wheaton (No. 7) and Illinois Wesleyan (No. 10) represent the CCIW and Aurora represents the NACC at No. 9.
The automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships will go to the top team from each gender at each of the ten regionals. There will be an additional 22 teams per gender that receive an at-large bid to head to the championships. An athlete who is not selected as a member of a qualifying team, automatic or at-large, and finishes in the top seven, will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships.
The Midwest Regional Championships begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Max Championship Cross Country Course in Waverly, Iowa on Saturday, November 15. The NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships will be run Saturday, November 22 in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
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About the American Rivers Conference
Nationally respected for excellence in NCAA Division III athletics, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has a tradition dating back to its founding in 1922 as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association and adopted its current name in 2018 to reflect its strong Iowa roots and growing regional footprint. The A-R-C is a collaborative community that champions the holistic development of student-athletes, uniting member institutions in a shared commitment to academic achievement, athletic distinction, and leadership.
The A-R-C is home to nine full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. Luther College has announced its departure from the conference, effective at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year.
