Bailey, Pierce qualify for NAIA cross country National meet

SANDPOINT — A trio of former Bulldog cross country runners are enjoying strong freshman seasons in college, with two on their way to compete at the NAIA National Championships next Friday, Nov. 16 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Ciera Bailey finished 26th in 19:04 over 5K for the Yotes at the recent Cascade Conference Women’s Cross Country Championships in Sammamish, Washington. Bailey was sixth on the Yotes, who are ranked No. 13 in NAIA, just missing out on scoring. She will compete at the upcoming nationals in Iowa.

Also at that meet will be Garrett Pierce, competing for the College of the Ozarks men’s team, which finished second recently at the A.I.I. Conference Championships in Bettendorf, Iowa.

Pierce was fourth in 27:10.6 for the Bobcats, who host and participate in the NCCAA Division I and Division II Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Nationals on the campus at Point Lookout, Missouri.

The following week, Pierce will run at the NAIA National Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at the same meet as former teammate Bailey.

Hannah Davidson continues her strong season running for Utah State, which came in at No. 37 in the latest NCAA Division I Cross Country Coaches’ Poll.

In the annual Mountain West Championships, held Oct. 26, at Morley Field at Balboa Park, the women’s team placed fourth overall, with Davidson among those in action for the Aggies.

Davidson will run in the NCAA Mountain Region Championships on Friday, Nov. 9 at the East Bay Golf Course.