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Preseason Division II Regional Rankings Released
Cross country season kicks off soon
August 24, 2010
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced on Tuesday preseason regional cross country rankings in Division II. Placed in order by a representative in each region, regional rankings are a reflection of a team’s strengths entering the year based on returning and new runners on each squad.
NCAA Regional Championships will take place on November 20 or 21 in eight sites. A complete listing can be found here … http://www.ustfccca.org/ustfccca-calendar/future-collegiate-championships.
The top-25 teams in the national cross country coaches’ poll in Division II will be released on Wednesday. The NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships will be held on December 4 in Louisville, Ky., at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer Park.
The next regional rankings will be released on September 21.
MEN’S RANKINGS
ATLANTIC Region
Steve Spence’s Shippensburg squad is the defending champs in the region and finished 13th at the national championships last year. Edinboro was runner up in the regional last year, but placed 12th at the national meet.
ATLANTIC Region
Rank
School
Location
Conference
2009 FINISH
1
Shippensburg
Shippensburg, Pa.
PSAC
1
2
Edinboro
Edinboro, Pa.
PSAC
2
3
Lock Haven
Lock Haven, Pa.
PSAC
3
4
Millersville
Millersville, Pa.
PSAC
12
5
Slippery Rock
Slippery Rock, Pa.
PSAC
7
6
East Stroudsburg
East Stroudsburg, Pa.
PSAC
4
7
California (Pa.)
California, Pa.
PSAC
9
8
Wheeling Jesuit
Wheeling, W.Va.
WVIAC
18
9
Bloomsburg (Pa.)
Bloomsburg, Pa.
PSAC
5
10
Indiana (Pa.)
Indiana, Pa.
PSAC
6
CENTRAL Region
The Central Region boasted the top three finishing teams at the NCAA Championships last fall, including Adams State who is the two-time national defending squad. The Grizzlies return just two of their top five runners from a year ago while RMAC rival Western State brings four of five back from their squad that was the national and region runner-up in 2009. Colorado Mines who was third at the national meet has all five of their top squad members back.
CENTRAL Region
Rank
School
Location
Conference
2009 FINISH
1
Adams State
Alamosa, Colo.
RMAC
1
2
Western State
Gunnison, Colo.
RMAC
2
3
Colorado Mines
Golden, Colo.
RMAC
3
4
Augustana (S.D.)
Sioux Falls, S.D.
NSIC
5
5
Metro State
Denver, Colo.
RMAC
4
6
Neb.-Kearney
Kearney, Neb.
RMAC
8
7
Minnesota State
Mankato, Minn.
NSIC
7
8
New Mexico Highlands
Las Vegas, N.M.
RMAC
9
9
St. Cloud State
St. Cloud, Minn.
NSIC
11
10
UC-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, Colo.
RMAC
10
EAST Region
UMass Lowell hold the top spot in the East to start the season. The Gary Gardner-led River Hawks was 16th at the NCAA meet in 2009 and the East champ. American International is ranked second in the region and returns now-sophomore Glarius Rop who finished third at the national meet as a freshman a year ago.
EAST Region
Rank
School
Location
Conference
2009 FINISH
1
UMass Lowell
Lowell, Mass.
NE-10
1
2
American International
Springfield, Mass.
NE-10
5
3
Stonehill
Easton, Mass.
NE-10
2
4
Adelphi
Garden City, N.Y.
NE-10
4
5
Bentley
Waltham, Mass.
NE-10
3
6
Southern Connecticut
New Haven, Conn.
NE-10
6
7
C.W. Post
Brookville, N.Y.
East Coast
10
8
Saint Rose
Albany, N.Y.
NE-10
9
9
Felician
Lodi, N.J.
CACC
14
10
New Haven
West Haven, Conn.
NE-10
12
MIDWEST Region
Grand Valley State is the early favorite in the Midwest Region, but Lakers coach Jerry Baltes will have Southern Indiana in close view throughout the season. While GVSU notched a fifth-place showing at last year’s NCAA meet, the Screaming Eagles of Southern Indiana was sixth and enter as the second-ranked team in the Midwest.
MIDWEST Region
Rank
School
Location
Conference
2009 FINISH
1
Grand Valley State
Allendale, Mich.
GLIAC
1
2
Southern Indiana
Evansville, Ind.
GLVC
3
3
Drury
Springfield, Mo.
GLVC
4
4
Bellarmine
Louisville, Ky.
GLVC
5
5
Wayne State (Mich.)
Detroit, Mich.
GLIAC
6
6
Ashland
Ashland, Ohio
GLIAC
17
7
Saginaw Valley State
Bay City, Mich.
GLIAC
2
8
Lewis
Romeoville, Ill.
GLVC
16
9
Hillsdale
Hillsdale, Mich.
GLIAC
7
10
Findlay
Findlay, Ohio
GLIAC
10
SOUTH Region
Harding returns last year’s national runner up Daniel Kirwa to their arsenal. Kirwa, now a junior, led the Bison last year to a ninth-place national finish. Florida Southern, ranked second in the region, was 22nd at the national meet in 2009.
SOUTH Region
Rank
School
Location
Conference
2009 FINISH
1
Harding
Searcy, Ark.
Gulf South
1
2
Florida Southern
Lakeland, Fla.
Sunshine
2
3
Ala.-Huntsville
Huntsville, Ala.
Gulf South
6
4
Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Sunshine
8
5
West Georgia
Carrollton, Ga.
Gulf South
4
6
West Florida
Pensacola, Fla.
Gulf South
5
7
Nova Southeastern
Davie, Fla.
Sunshine
3
8
West Alabama
Livingston, Ala.
Gulf South
12
9
Florida Tech
Melbourne, Fla.
Sunshine
7
10
Morehouse
Atlanta, Ga.
SIAC
10
SOUTH CENTRAL Region
The Tarleton State Texans are ranked as the top team in the South Central to star t the season. Pittsburg State, who 18th at last year’s national meet sits second in the regional rankings.
SOUTH CENTRAL Region
Rank
School
Location
Conference
2009 FINISH
1
Tarleton State
Stephenville, Texas
Lone Star
4
2
Pittsburg State
Pittsburg, Kan.
MIAA
3
3
Fort Hays State
Hays, Kan.
MIAA
6
4
Missouri Southern
Joplin, Mo.
MIAA
1
5
Eastern New Mexico
Portales, N.M.
Lone Star
9
6
Emporia State
Emporia, Kan.
MIAA
7
7
Central Missouri
Warrensburg, Mo.
MIAA
8
8
Cameron
Lawton, Okla.
Lone Star
5
9
East Central (Okla.)
Ada, Okla.
Lone Star
11
10
Abilene Christian
Abilene, Texas
Lone Star
10
SOUTHEAST Region
Queens University of Charlotte is the early favorite in the Southeast. Scott Simmons’ Royals won the region in 2009 and was seventh at the NCAA Championships. Columbus State returns their top four runners and was 19th at the national meet last year. King College of Bristol, Tenn., will make their Division II debut this year and have a team to watch.
SOUTHEAST Region
Rank
School
Location
Conference
2009 FINISH
1
Queens (N.C.)
Charlotte, N.C.
Conf. Car.
1
2
Columbus State
Columbus, Ga.
Peach Belt
2
3
Mars Hill
Mars Hill, N.C.
SAC
3
4
Clayton State
Morrow, Ga.
Peach Belt
5
5
King College
Bristol, Tenn.
Indep.
NCCAA
6
UNC Pembroke
Pembroke, N.C.
Peach Belt
5
7
Wingate
Wingate, N.C.
SAC
8
8
Lees-McRae
Banner Elk, N.C.
Conf. Car.
4
9
Anderson (S.C.)
Anderson, S.C.
Conf. Car.
12
10
Lenoir-Rhyne
Hickory, N.C.
SAC
9
WEST Region
Chico State, led by Gary Towne, is the defending West champs and holds the top spot in the region to begin the year. The Wildcats placed eighth at last year’s national meet while second-ranked Western Washington was fourth.
WEST Region
Rank
School
Location
Conference
2009 FINISH
1
Chico State
Chico, Calif.
CCAA
1
2
Western Washington
Bellingham, Wash.
GNAC
2
3
Alaska-Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
GNAC
3
4
Western Oregon
Monmouth, Ore.
GNAC
4
5
Cal Poly Pomona
Pomona, Calif.
CCAA
5
6
Humboldt State
Arcata, Calif.
CCAA
6
7
Northwest Nazarene
Nampa, Idaho
GNAC
7
8
UC San Diego
La Jolla, Calif.
CCAA
9
9
Cal State Stanislaus
Turlock, Calif.
CCAA
8
10
BYU Hawaii
Laie, Hawaii
Pac West
10
WOMEN’S RANKINGS
ATLANTIC Region
Shippensburg also leads the women’s region rankings out of the gate. The defending champs of the region, the Red Raiders placed 15th at the NCAA meet in 2009. PSAC rival Kutztown is ranked second in the region and was 14th at the national meet last year. Bloomsburg (Pa.), who is fourth in the preseason rankings, was 17th at nationals last year.
ATLANTIC Region
Rank
School
Location
Conference
2009 FINISH
1
Shippensburg
Shippensburg, Pa.
PSAC
1
2
Kutztown
Kutztown, Pa.
PSAC
2
3
Slippery Rock
Slippery Rock, Pa.
PSAC
4
4
Bloomsburg (Pa.)
Bloomsburg, Pa.
PSAC
3
5
Edinboro
Edinboro, Pa.
PSAC
8
6
Millersville
Millersville, Pa.
PSAC
5
7
Lock Haven
Lock Haven, Pa.
PSAC
6
8
Mansfield
Mansfield, Pa.
PSAC
7
9
Indiana (Pa.)
Indiana, Pa.
PSAC
10
10
East Stroudsburg
East Stroudsburg, Pa.
PSAC
12
CENTRAL Region
Defending national champions Adams State is the top-ranked team in the Central region. Damon Martin’s squad will have challengers in the region which include national top-10 finishers from a year ago, Minnesota Duluth and Western State.
CENTRAL Region
Rank
School
Location
Conference
2009 FINISH
1
Adams State
Alamosa, Colo.
RMAC
1
2
Minnesota Duluth
Duluth, Minn.
NSIC
6
3
Western State
Gunnison, Colo.
RMAC
2
4
Augustana (S.D.)
Sioux Falls, S.D.
NSIC
3
5
U-Mary
Bismarck, N.D.
NSIC
4
6
Mesa State
Grand Junction, Colo.
RMAC
7
7
Colorado Mines
Golden, Colo.
RMAC
8
8
Metro State
Denver, Colo.
RMAC
5
9
Winona State
Winona, Minn.
NSIC
10
10
Minnesota State
Mankato, Minn.
NSIC
11
EAST Region
Karen Boen’s Stonehill Skyhawks are the defending champs and top-ranked team in the East. The Northeast-10 boasts the top five regional ranked sports with Southern Connecticut and UMass Lowell falling at No. 2 and 3, respectively.
EAST Region
Rank
School
Location
Conference
2009 FINISH
1
Stonehill
Easton, Mass.
NE-10
1
2
Southern Connecticut
New Haven, Conn.
NE-10
4
3
UMass Lowell
Lowell, Mass.
NE-10
2
4
Adelphi
Garden City, N.Y.
NE-10
3
5
Saint Rose
Albany, N.Y.
NE-10
7
6
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pa.
CACC
5
7
Merrimack
North Andover, Mass.
NE-10
6
8
Bentley
Waltham, Mass.
NE-10
8
9
NYIT
Old Westbury, N.Y.
East Coast
9
10
Georgian Court
Lakewood, N.J.
CACC
10
MIDWEST Region
Last year’s national runner up, Grand Valley State, holds the top-ranked spot and is looking for a title defense in the Midwest. GLIAC rival Ferris State is the second-ranked team after finishing 11th at the national meet a year ago. Southern Indiana, at third in the region, was 12th at nationals in 2009.
MIDWEST Region
Rank
School
Location
Conference
2009 FINISH
1
Grand Valley State
Allendale, Mich.
GLIAC
1
2
Ferris State
Big Rapids, Mich.
GLIAC
3
3
Southern Indiana
Evansville, Ind.
GLVC
2
4
Ashland
Ashland, Ohio
GLIAC
5
5
Findlay
Findlay, Ohio
GLIAC
7
6
Lewis
Romeoville, Ill.
GLVC
11
7
Hillsdale
Hillsdale, Mich.
GLIAC
4
8
Northern Kentucky
Highland Heights, Ky.
GLVC
6
9
Bellarmine
Louisville, Ky.
GLVC
8
10
Wayne State (Mich.)
Detroit, Mich.
GLIAC
10
SOUTH Region
After finishing in the nation’s top 10 last fall, the Tampa Spartans are the top-ranked squad and defending champs of the South Region. Harding, who graduated their top six runners from a team that was 19th at the NCAAs a year ago, still get a nod as the second-ranked squad in the region.
SOUTH Region
Rank
School
Location
Conference
2009 FINISH
1
Tampa
Tampa, Fla.
Sunshine
1
2
Harding
Searcy, Ark.
Gulf South
2
3
Ala.-Huntsville
Huntsville, Ala.
Gulf South
11
4
Arkansas Tech
Russellville, Ark.
Gulf South
4
5
West Florida
Pensacola, Fla.
Gulf South
6
6
Nova Southeastern
Davie, Fla.
Sunshine
8
7
West Alabama
Livingston, Ala.
Gulf South
9
8
Florida Tech
Melbourne, Fla.
Sunshine
3
9
Florida Southern
Lakeland, Fla.
Sunshine
5
10
West Georgia
Carrollton, Ga.
Gulf South
7
SOUTH CENTRAL Region
Patty Varva’s Missouri Southern Lions are the defending champs and top-ranked squad in the South Central. After claiming a third-place national showing a year ago, MSSU has several MIAA rivals that will be gunning for a top finish in the region, including Truman State, Pittsburg State, and Northwest Misssouri.
SOUTH CENTRAL Region
Rank
School
Location
Conference
2009 FINISH
1
Missouri Southern
Joplin, Mo.
MIAA
1
2
Truman State
Kirksville, Mo.
MIAA
3
3
Pittsburg State
Pittsburg, Kan.
MIAA
4
4
Northwest Missouri
Maryville, Mo.
MIAA
5
5
Fort Hays State
Hays, Kan.
MIAA
6
6
Central Missouri
Warrensburg, Mo.
MIAA
9
7
Emporia State
Emporia, Kan.
MIAA
10
8
Midwestern State
Wichita Falls, Texas
Lone Star
8
9
Dallas Baptist
Dallas, Texas
Heartland
2
10
West Texas A&M
Canyon, Texas
Lone Star
12
SOUTHEAST Region
The Cougars of Columbus State holds the title of defending champs of the Southeast and is the No. 1 team in the preseason. J.D. Evisizer returns four of five to his team that was 24th last year at the national championships. Queens (N.C.) was 20th at the national meet in 2009 and will be on the radar for the region’s top spot.
SOUTHEAST Region
Rank
School
Location
Conference
2009 FINISH
1
Columbus State
Columbus, Ga.
Peach Belt
1
2
Queens (N.C.)
Charlotte, N.C.
Conf. Car.
2
3
Lenoir-Rhyne
Hickory, N.C.
SAC
7
4
Augusta State
Augusta, Ga.
Peach Belt
5
5
Anderson (S.C.)
Anderson, S.C.
Conf. Car.
10
6
King College
Bristol, Tenn.
Indep.
NCCAA
7
Lees-McRae
Banner Elk, N.C.
Conf. Car.
3
8
Clayton State
Morrow, Ga.
Peach Belt
9
9
GCSU
Milledgeville, Ga.
Peach Belt
4
10
Montevallo
Montevallo, Ala.
Peach Belt
6
WEST Region
The West Region had four of its squads finish in the nation’s top 10 in 2009 and will once again be a region to watch closely. Alaska-Anchorage is the defending champs and top-ranked squad in the region and the Seawolves notched a fifth-place showing at the NCAA Championships a year ago. Second-ranked Chico State was sixth at NCAAs a year ago while third-ranked Western Washington was eighth nationally and fourth-ranked Seattle Pacific was fourth in the nation last fall.
WEST Region
Rank
School
Location
Conference
2009 FINISH
1
Alaska-Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
GNAC
1
2
Chico State
Chico, Calif.
CCAA
2
3
Western Washington
Bellingham, Wash.
GNAC
4
4
Seattle Pacific
Seattle, Wash.
GNAC
3
5
Northwest Nazarene
Nampa, Idaho
GNAC
6
6
Cal Poly Pomona
Pomona, Calif.
CCAA
5
7
UC San Diego
La Jolla, Calif.
CCAA
7
8
Cal State LA
Los Angeles, Calif.
CCAA
8
9
Western Oregon
Monmouth, Ore.
GNAC
10
10
BYU Hawaii
Laie, Hawaii
Pac West
9
---
Tom Lewis
U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association
Communications Manager
1100 Poydras St., Suite 1750
New Orleans, LA 70163
(O) 504-599-8904 (F) 504-599-8909
Email: tom@ustfccca.org
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