VANCOUVER, Wash. – Bethel’s Joseph Skoog finished as national runner-up in the 2023
Men’s Cross Country National Championship in Vancouver, Washington Friday afternoon.
Jackson Wilson of Rocky Mountain (Mont.) was the NAIA Men’s Cross Country Individual Champion. The
senior completed his championship race with a time of 24:31.8, climbing up from fourth in the final
kilometer. Joseph Skoog of Bethel (Tenn.) finished in second (24:40.9) while Emad Bashir-Mohammed of
Saint Mary claimed the No. 3 spot as he fought through the pain in the final meters.
With his finish, Skoog was named to the NAIA All-American team.
Milligan (Tenn.) edged Saint Mary (Kan.) by a matter of five points to capture its second NAIA Men’s
Cross Country National Championship.
Coach Brandon Kilburn said, “It was an incredible day for Bethel Cross-Country. Joseph ran his heart out
and led the championship for a good portion of the race. He has been a pleasure to coach, and it has
been an outstanding season for him. He topped the season off with his best performance of the year.”