Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Western State Tops Both National Rankings in DII Cross Country

October 26, 2011



NEW ORLEANS – On Wednesday, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released its week six national team rankings for the 2011 NCAA Division II cross country season. Western State (College of Colorado, Gunnison, Colorado) now holds the nation’s top spot in both men’s and women’s rankings, taking over the men’s top spot for the first time this year after defeating then-No. 1 Adams State (College in Alamosa, Colorado) at the RMAC Championships last week. Western State, Adams State, and Grand Valley State (Allendale, Michigan) are in the top three of both men’s and women’s rankings.



MEN

* Western State takes over the top spot for the first time since November 6, 2007. The Mountaineers unseated in-conference rival Adams State by besting the Grizzlies, 28-31 at the RMAC Championships in Denver this past weekend. It was the first conference title for WSU since 2004 and broke Adams State’s streak of six-straight league crowns. The Mountaineers were led by Tyler Pennel who also took the individual conference crown with a 11-second victory of 24:59 in the 8k race.

* New Mexico Highlands (No. 15) and Stonehill (No. 19) reached their highest spot this season in the rankings with this week’s release.

* The RMAC leads all leagues with five schools in the top 25, followed by the Northeast-10, PSAC, and RMAC with three each.



WOMEN

* Western State’s women remain the top team in the land after topping Adams State, 27-31, at the RMAC Championships. Individual champ Lauren Kleppin (21:12) led WSU to victory.

* Adams State moved up two spots to No. 3, a season’s high.

* No. 4 Augustana (S.D.) and No. 18 Southern Indiana have reached season highs as well. Augustana (S.D.) won the NSIC title over U-Mary while Southern Indiana captured the GLVC crown.

* New to the rankings for the first time this season are No. 21 Metro State, No. 24 UW-Parkside, and No. 25 Bentley.

* The GLVC, MIAA, PSAC, and RMAC each have three squads in the top 25 this week to lead all conferences.



The NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships will be held on Saturday, November 19, in Spokane, Wash. NCAA Regional Championships will be held two weeks prior on the weekend of November 5.



USTFCCCA

NCAA Division II

Men's Cross Country National Team Rankings

2011 Week #6, October 26

next ranking: November 9 (pre-NCAA Championships)


Rank
Institution
Region
Conference
Head Coach (Yr*)
Last Week

1
Western State
Central
RMAC
Jennifer Michel (5th)
2

2
Adams State
Central
RMAC
Damon Martin (17th)
1

3
Grand Valley State
Midwest
GLIAC
Jerry Baltes (13th)
3

4
Colorado Mines
Central
RMAC
Art Siemers (10th)
4

5
Chico State
West
CCAA
Gary Towne (16th)
5

6
Southern Indiana
Midwest
GLVC
Mike Hillyard (14th)
6

7
Augustana (S.D.)
Central
NSIC
Tracy Hellman (11th)
8

8
Edinboro
Atlantic
PSAC
Doug Watts (43rd)
7

9
Eastern New Mexico
South Central
Lone Star
Mike Harney (1st)
9

10
Central Missouri
South Central
MIAA
Kirk Pedersen (25th)
10

11
Alaska Anchorage
West
GNAC
Michael Friess (21st)
11

12
East Central (Okla.)
South Central
Great American
Steve Sawyer (3rd)
12

13
Queens (N.C.)
Southeast
Conf. Carolinas
Scott Simmons (4th)
15

14
Minnesota State
Central
NSIC
Mark Schuck (30th)
13

15
New Mexico Highlands
Central
RMAC
Bob DeVries (20th)
20

16
Metro State
Central
RMAC
John Supsic (2nd)
14

17
Bellarmine
Midwest
GLVC
Jim Vargo (12th)
17

18
Shippensburg
Atlantic
PSAC
Steve Spence (14th)
18

19
Stonehill
East
Northeast-10
Karen Boen (14th)
23

20
Western Washington
West
GNAC
Pee Wee Halsell (25th)
19

21
Lock Haven
Atlantic
PSAC
Aaron Russell (14th)
21

22
Southern Connecticut
East
Northeast-10
John Wallin (2nd)
NR

23
Western Oregon
West
GNAC
Mike Johnson (8th)
22

24
Ashland
Midwest
GLIAC
Trent Mack (2nd)
24

25
UMass Lowell
East
Northeast-10
Gary Gardner (10th)
16

Dropped Out: No. 21 Mansfield, No. 24 East Stoudsburg, No. 25 Northwest Missouri

teams ranked by T.J. Garlatz, Alaska Anchorage

(* year as head coach of that team in men's cross country, officially NCAA-recognized coach listed)


USTFCCCA

NCAA Division II

Women's Cross Country National Team Rankings

2011 Week #6, October 26

next ranking: November 9 (pre-NCAA Championships)


Rank
Institution
Region
Conference
Head Coach (Yr*)
Last Week

1
Western State
Central
RMAC
Jennifer Michel (5th)
1

2
Grand Valley State
Midwest
GLIAC
Jerry Baltes (13th)
2

3
Adams State
Central
RMAC
Damon Martin (24th)
5

4
Augustana (S.D.)
Central
NSIC
Tracy Hellman (11th)
7

5
Chico State
West
CCAA
Gary Towne (16th)
4

6
Ferris State
Midwest
GLIAC
Steve Picucci (4th)
3

7
Alaska Anchorage
West
GNAC
Michael Friess (21st)
6

8
U-Mary
Central
NSIC
Dennis Newell (6th)
8

9
Shippensburg
Atlantic
PSAC
Steve Spence (14th)
9

10
Edinboro
Atlantic
PSAC
Doug Watts (43rd)
10

11
Tampa
South
Sunshine
Jarrett Slaven (13th)
11

12
Midwestern State
South Central
Lone Star
Koby Styles (5th)
12

13
Harding
South Central
Great American
Steve Guymon (9th)
13

14
Stonehill
East
Northeast-10
Karen Boen (14th)
14

15
Pittsburg State
South Central
MIAA
Russ Jewett (26th)
15

16
Western Washington
West
GNAC
Pee Wee Halsell (25th)
16

17
Queens (N.C.)
Southeast
Conf. Carolinas
Scott Simmons (4th)
18

18
Southern Indiana
Midwest
GLVC
Mike Hillyard (15th)
19

19
Missouri Southern
South Central
MIAA
Patty Vavra (16th)
20

20
Bellarmine
Midwest
GLVC
Kris Horton (7th)
17

21
Metro State
Central
RMAC
John Supsic (2nd)
NR

22
Lock Haven
Atlantic
PSAC
Aaron Russell (14th)
23

23
Truman State
South Central
MIAA
John Cochrane (32nd)
22

24
UW-Parkside
Midwest
GLVC
Micah VanDenend (2nd)
NR

25
Bentley
East
Northeast-10
Kevin Curtin (1st)
NR

Dropped Out: No. 25 Missouri Southern

teams ranked by Ray Hoffman, Kutztown

(* year as head coach of that team in women's cross country, officially NCAA-recognized coach listed)














---

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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2011 USTFCCCA CONVENTION

DEC 12-15, 2011 • SAN ANTONIO, TX

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