MARION, Ind. -- The 2008 NAIA Cross Country National Championships will feature the Indiana Wesleyan University men's and women's teams on November 22 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The women will compete in the 29th annual national championship at 11:30 a.m. while the men race in the 53rd annual championship at 12:45 p.m. The races will be held at the Dr. Wayne E. Dannehl Cross Country Course in Kenosha.

The women already knew their fate after accepting the automatic bid to the nationals by winning the Mid-Central College Conference championship on November 8. Indiana Wesleyan was one of 25 teams to earn the automatic bid in the 32 team field.

Despite racing to the MCC title, the Wildcats dropped one spot in the final NAIA poll to No. 12. IWU totaled 373 points and were just four points out of the top-10. Cedarville (Ohio) University garnered 13-of-20 first place votes to finish No. 1 with 554 points.

The men's team was forced to wait until the field was announced to know if their season would continue. With 25 automatic bids already accounted for, the Wildcats were awarded with one of the seven at-large selections.

IWU earned the at-large bid with the No. 21 spot in the final national poll of the season. The Wildcats tallied 220 points while Malone (Ohio) College received all 21 first place votes for the unanimous selection as the top team.

Indiana Wesleyan will compete this weekend at the NCCAA National Championships in Cedarville, Ohio. The women's race is set for 10 a.m. and the men at 11 a.m.