Northwestern College Men's Cross Country

Bahrke begins his 15th year as head coach of both the Northwestern College cross country and track and field teams in 2026-27. Family: wife - Lyndsay; children - Payge, Olyvia and Isaac Alma Mater (Year): Northwestern College (2001) Playing Career: Three-time NAIA All-American (2000, 2001); three-time national qualifier Coaching Experience: 2012-present - Head Coach at Northwestern College 2007-2011 - Head boys Track and Field coach at Kingsley-Pierson High School 2010-11 - Head boys Cross Country coach at Kingsley-Pierson High School 2001-06 - Head Cross Country/Assistant Track and Field Coach-Iowa Falls/Alden H.S. Coaching Accomplishments:    Men's Cross Country team won back-to-back GPAC Titles in 2016-17 Men's Cross Country team posted best ever finish (6th) at NAIA Championship in 2016 Men's Cross Country won its first ever GPAC Championship in 2016 Men's Cross Country team qualified for nationals four straight years (2014-17); 1st appearance (8th overall) since 1993 Women's Cross Country qualified for nationals in 2017 - finished 13th  Women's Cross Country was the GPAC Runner-up in 2017; among top five teams in GPAC in six of last seven years Women's Cross Country earned first national ranking in 2017, first since 2011 Both Cross Country teams (M/W) have been named NAIA Scholar Teams every season under Bahrke. Men's Track and Field - GPAC Runner-Up at both indoor and outdoor championships-best ever finish in 2018 Men's Track and Field scored the most points ever at GPAC Indoor Championship (2013, 2015, 2018) Men's track and field placed 27th at 2015 NAIA Indoor Women's indoor track and field finished 6th at NAIA Championships (2018) Women's outdoor track and field scored the most points in program history at the GPAC Championships in 2015 (91) Women's track and field team placed 26th at 2015 NAIA Outdoor Both Track and Field teams have been an NAIA Scholar Team every year under Bahrke. Other Coaching Accomplishments: Karen Ettleman - National Champion in the Heptathlon (2015) Will Norris finished third at the 2016 NAIA Cross Country National Championship - best ever finish by a Red Raider 1 NAIA All-American (Outdoor); 1 NAIA All-American (Indoor) - 2026 7 NAIA All-Americans (Outdoor) - 2024 2 NAIA All-Americans (Outdoor); 1 NAIA All-American (Indoor) - 2023 2 NAIA All-Americans (Outdoor); 1 NAIA All-American (Indoor) - 2022 1 NAIA All-American (Outdoor); 5 NAIA All-Americans (Indoor) - 2021 no outdoor season; 3 NAIA All-Americans (Indoor) - 2020 4 NAIA All-Americans (Outdoor); 4 NAIA All-Americans (Indoor) - 2019 7 NAIA All-Americans (Outdoor); 15 NAIA All-Americans (Indoor) - 2018 5 NAIA All-Americans (Outdoor); 16 NAIA All-Americans (Indoor) - 2017 8 NAIA All-Americans (Outdoor); 11 NAIA All-Americans (Indoor) - 2016 9 NAIA All-Americans (Outdoor); 11 NAIA All-Americans (Indoor) - 2015 12 NAIA All-Americans (Outdoor); 5 NAIA All-Americans (Indoor) - 2014 2 NAIA All-Americans (Outdoor); 7 NAIA All-Americans (Indoor) - 2013 3 NAIA All-Americans (Cross Country) - Will Norris (2016), Katie Bosch (2017), and Dylan Hendricks (2020) “I am blessed with the opportunity to coach such a great group of athletes,” commented Bahrke. “They seek to glorify God in all they do.” Bahrke's Years at Northwestern: (Cross Country only) 2025 Women - 6th; Men - 4th 2024 Women - 6th; Men - 5th 2023 Women - 7th; Men - 5th 2022 Women - 4th; Men - 5th 2021 Women - 6th; Men - 3rd 2020 Women - 3rd, Men - 2nd 2019 Women - 3rd, Men - 4th 2018 Women - 3rd, Men - 2nd 2017 Women - 2nd, Men - 1st 2016 Women - 5th, Men - 1st 2015 Women - 9th, Men - 2nd 2014 Women - 8th, Men - 2nd 2013 Women - 7th, Men - 5th 2012 Women - 7th, Men - 6th Bahrke's Years at Northwestern: (Track and Field only) 2026 W Indoor - 4th; W Outdoor - 6th; M Indoor - 4th; M Outdoor - 3rd 2025 W Indoor - 6th; W Outdoor - 5th; M Indoor - 5th; M Outdoor - 5th 2024 W Indoor - 5th; W Outdoor - 5th; M Indoor - 6th; M Outdoor - 6th 2023 W Indoor - 6th, W Outdoor - 6th; M Indoor - 6th, M Outdoor - 6th 2022 W Indoor - 5th, W Outdoor - 5th; M Indoor - 6th, M Outdoor - 6th 2021 W Indoor - 6th, W Outdoor - 6th; M Indoor - 4th, M Outdoor - 3rd 2020 W Indoor - 5th, W Outdoor - n/a; M Indoor - 7th, M Outdoor - n/a 2019 W Indoor - 4th, W Outdoor - 5th; M Indoor - 5th, M Outdoor - 4th 2018 W Indoor - 6th, W Outdoor - 6th; M Indoor - 2nd, M Outdoor - 2nd 2017 W Indoor - 6th, W Outdoor - 5th; M Indoor - 3rd, M Outdoor - 4th 2016 W Indoor - 7th, W Outdoor - 7th, M Indoor - 5th, M Outdoor - 5th 2015 W Indoor - 7th, W Outdoor - 4th, M Indoor - 5th, M Outdoor - 5th 2014 W Indoor - 7th, W Outdoor - 7th, M Indoor - 4th, M Outdoor - 5th 2013 W Indoor - 7th, W Outdoor - 7th, M Indoor - 4th, M Outdoor - 4th Updated May 2026