d2cross

The wrap

2011-02-15T07:30:00.001-07:00

That's all -- at least for now. Thanks for reading!

Top five moments of the 2010 D2 cross country season

2011-01-06T08:34:00.005-07:00

Late summer, Indianapolis, Ind.: The NCAA Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement unwittingly had a role in the outcome of the 2010 NCAA Division II championships. In July, the committee granted Luke Cragg (Adams State) an extra year of cross and outdoors for seasons missed in 2006 and 2008 due to injury. The Leeds, England, product would finish 11th in Louisville as third man for the Grizzlies. Less than one second later, Craig Huffer would finish as ASC’s fourth man. Huffer, a much-heralded international performer of Australia, also had his NCAA amateur status restored by the committee in late summer. Without the duo, Adams would’ve (theoretically) barely won in Louisville, 94-95 over Western State.
Sept. 18, Carlisle, Penn.: She won indoor and outdoor titles earlier this year, but Neeley Spence (Shippensburg) only finished 43rd last year in Evansville. She won easily on this day at the Dickson College Invite, which turned out to be the first step toward a resounding victory in Louisville. As she recounted to Running Times, her dad and coach yelled as she neared the finish line in Louisville “to enjoy this, remember last year and enjoy it....I was so happy to be able to do that, because last year showed you can’t take anything for granted.” And she’s got one more year.
Oct. 2, Louisville, Ky.: Grand Valley State women race at Tom E. Sawyer State Park for the first time in 2010. Two more trips would follow, culminating in a first-ever school national championship. Credit should go to coach Jerry Baltes for allowing his team to get acquainted with the mostly flat course. And when the snow fell at nats in December, the squad rushed to the front and controlled the outcome.
Oct. 15, Charlotte, N.Car.: For the second time, Michael Crouch (Queens) was surprised by a D2 runner, the previously overshadowed Meshack Koyiacki (Columbus State). And while the first loss came in Louisville, this one came on Crouch’s home course. Koyiacki would win a third head-to-head meeting at regionals, but Crouch wisely used the longer-than-normal run-up to nationals to retool his kick. In the slush at Louisville, the pair entered the finish straight together, but the Queens man powered away for a shrewd win.
Nov. 7, Easton, Mass.: I’m not sure when he quit a part-time job to focus more on running, but this is when the D2 world first had an inkling of the most-inspiring individual performer of 2010. In two weeks, he would would win the East Regional and stun a national title contender -- Glarius Rop (American International). In a month, he would dictate the men’s race in Louisville, eventually finishing third. But on Nov. 7, Jeff Veiga (Mass.-Lowell) got within 8 seconds of Rop, nearly running him down. Coach Gary Gardner called Veiga’s run that day “unbelieveable.” A stunned Gardner would repeat those words again and again. “He had ultimate confidence,” Gardner told the Lowell Eagle-Tribune after nationals. “Since last March, Jeff did a lot of work. He really dedicated himself to this season.” Does that motivate ya’?

(Photo credit: University of Massachusetts-Lowell)

Other things noticed at Louisville: Chico's Chavez a future champ?

2010-12-04T18:50:00.004-07:00

Lots of interesting info in the final results. Here's a few I have noticed (please add your own):

Ex-national champ Daniel Kirwa (Harding) certainly struggled in the conditions, mustering only a 42nd place. Glarius Rop (American International) also didn't like the slop -- he finished 23rd. Apologies for the rhyme.
Is Issac Chavez (Chico State, pictured) a future champ? The freshman was fifth. Yes, yes, I'm already looking toward next year. ('Cause I'll be there in Spokane.)
Augustana and Shippensburg had the most-unexpected men's team finishes. Augie's finish ensures six Central region men's qualifiers in 2011.
Michael Crouch (Queens) talked about timing his kick better for his fourth matchup against Meshack Koyiacki. Impeccable timing, I'd say, and great prep work.
Ferris State is in Michigan. (That's an acknowledgement of completely underestimating their women's team, which finished eighth.)
The Grand Valley women certainly seemed in control early. And that was apparently by design. “As much as the men chewed up the course, we thought it was imperative to establish position out front because I thought it was going to be really, really hard to maneuver through a crowd as muddy and sloppy and slippery as it got,” coach Jerry Baltes told NCAA.com.
Western State's David Flynn might not be done with cross this season. The soph was named top alternate to Ireland's under-23 team for worlds. Flynn was 40th in Louisville.
37 national cross titles for Adams State now. 37! The men made it look easy. And the women rallied from a slow start to a strong third, nearly nabbing their Western State rivals. Long live the ASC-WSC rivalry!

Championship Day: Adams, Crouch; Grand Valley, Spence

2010-12-04T08:10:00.012-07:00

8:11 a.m. (MST): Well, 80 percent chance of snow or rain. That could make things interesting. In other news, can you believe that the Grand Valley State women's soccer team also made the final game? They play this afternoon. It would be some day if they won a couple of championships. That might actually remind the school they are more than a football school.

8:29 a.m.: Nice interview on Flotrack with Queens coach Scott Simmons. He says it's "all coming together" for his team. His top runner, Michael Crouch, expects a team finish between fifth and seventh and, perhaps, a win for himself. Sounds like he worked on his finish.

8:40 a.m.: A team reports says "snowy and slushy." 20 minutes until the gun.

9:35 a.m.: In about two inches of snow, Adams State has won its third straight national championship. Appears that Western State was second, just ahead of Grand Valley State. (The 1990 hat worked!) Individually, Michael Crouch (Queens) turned the tables on Meshack Koyiacki (Columbus State), as the two duked it out for the fourth time this season. Crouch wins this one! While he ran a great race, Mass.-Lowell's Jeff Veiga made this race, going out early and finishing with the leaders. Inspiring.

9:41 a.m.: Also inspiring, Brandon Birdsong (Adams State). A top-six finish for a guy I would've picked to be perhaps top 20. That's also inspired racing. You know who wasn't particularly inspired? Unfortunately, Amos Sang (Abilene Christian). Would've been interesting to see him leg it out at the line. ACU doesn't do well in snow, though.

9:51 a.m.: Time now for the women's race. This outcome is perhaps a little more uncertain than the men's. Judging from how the men race in a tight pack for a large portion of the race, that tendency could make for a very fluid situation in the women's.

10:32 a.m.: Grand Valley State wins its first-ever D2 title -- and it wasn't even close. The Lakers put seven in from of Western State's and Adams State's fourth runner. Those schools had won every (mostly Adams) title since entering D2 in 1992. Congrats to Jerry Baltes and the Lakers! Neeley Spence (Shippensburg) survived an early challenge from Sarah Porter (~~Seattle Pacific~~Western Washington), to easily win the women's race. A first title for Spence, she's just a junior. That's it for now -- back to life. But much more analysis to come...

The Personalities: One tough Alaskan, Duluthian and other sorts

2010-12-03T07:50:00.001-07:00

As you can tell from this blog, I believe a team championship is the more important part of the cross country championships. But, it is an individual effort, of course, so those outstanding few at the head of the race can’t be ignored.
While I suspect the men’s race will come down to a few individuals (like Amos Sang of Abilene Christian, Daniel Kirwa of Harding, Glarius Rop of American International, Michael Crouch of Queens and Neeley Spence of Shippensburg...well, just Neeley), I have to admit I’ll be watching the progress of these individuals.
Men
Meshack Koyiacki (Columbus State): There is something compelling about a guy who goes runs a 3:48 (metric mile) six months ago to repeatedly beating perhaps the best talent in D2 today (Crouch). And he does it at a school certainly not known for running. I’ll be interested to see if Coach J.D. Evilsizer’s preparation and Meschack’s obvious mental tenacity produce a national championship. That would be something.
Jake Parisien (Alaska-Anchorage): Sure, Anchorage has a lot of Rift Valley (or thereabouts) talent, but I’d argue the heart and soul of that team is homegrown Alaskan Parisien. 17th in 2008, he held himself out last year. Two weeks ago at the West Regionals, he fell twice, but rallied to finish seventh. This kid is tough. Coach Micheal Friess knows he has a good one. "Our Alaskans definitely feel like they are better runners and better performers because of our international athletes,” he told the Anchorage Daily News.
Jeff Veiga (Mass.-Lowell): Who is this guy? I mean really? The junior has a pedestrian 5K PR of 14:58 -- and then crushes a guy who nearly won the title in Evansville last year (Rop)? He’s a true local to boot, graduating from Lowell High. I love this guy's story. If Mass.-Lowell is going to make a run at some hardware, Veiga will again have to amaze.
Adam Volkert (Pittsburg State): He’s from Lee’s Summit (home of Mark Curp, I believe, a 1980s badass runner) had a quiet career for the Gorillas. Until now. He was one minute behind South Central regional winner Sang, but the promise he has showed this season bodes well for an All-American finish. He’s a sophomore, so he has time to develop. To me, he embodies the best of collegiate running -- far exceeding your high school performances and perhaps your own expectations.
Women
Megan Maceratini (Grand Valley State): After leading the Lakers all season last fall, she finished a distant 156th in Evansville (sick? injured? bad luck?). And her team barely lost to Adams State. That experience might crush a lesser athlete, but Maceratini appears to have ignored it and has again led the team in 2010. The senior has run outstanding times on the track and has achieved All America status twice. Again, as Maceratini goes, so goes Grand Valley State.
Morgan Place (Minnesota-Duluth): As a former resident of Duluth, I’m familiar with the Bulldogs cross country and track program. Disappointingly, her team didn’t qualify for the big show this fall. Place has been a stalwart on that team and has a garish total of 7 All America performances. Her worst finish at cross nationals is seventh. She has won 19 of 26 collegiate races. Can she beat Spence?
Alexis Skarda (Mesa State): It might be easy to be overlooked if you don’t run for one of the powerhouse D2 programs that comprise the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. But the Boulder native has made herself know, becoming the school’s first-ever All-American.
I admit I’ll be closely watching the progress of 14 certain runners from Adams State, too...

Fan Gear: 1990 or 2010?

2010-12-02T21:40:00.004-07:00

I'll be sporting some alma mater gear this Saturday. The question is: Which is bound to bring better luck, the 1990-vintage cap, featuring the windshield-sized front, or the sleek, 2010 version? (I won't burden you with an image of moi in my old jersey.) The 1990 cap brings back those fond memories of a fleeting youth. The 2010 cap would fit into any crowd, but is it worth it being anonymous, if you're a true fan?

The Favorites: Adams, Western, Grand Valley

2010-12-01T16:22:00.006-07:00

In my mind, there are three tiers in the men's and women's NCAA II championship field. Here's how I see it:

The Contenders
Men: Adams State, Western State and Grand Valley State. I really don't know how you beat this Adams State team. After losing three top runners last year, coach Damon Martin reloaded and developed talent (see Calmes, Keegan and Huffer, Craig). If anyone can pull the upset, it's Western State. They love to beat Adams and won't quit trying to do so until they're in the finishing chute. Grand Valley State will either astound us or leave us wanting. Coach Jerry Baltes is so close to a best-ever finish, the ex-D1 runner might be tempted to don a singlet and toe the line himself. Adams State wins its third straight and 19th overall (NAIA and NCAA).
Women: Adams State, Western State and Grand Valley State. Gee, sound familiar? This race is not clear cut. Western upset Adams at conference; Adams returned the favor two weeks later. Adams thrives when they're not the favorites (see "Evansville, 2009"). But will Grand Valley run away with it? A narrow loss last year should provide plenty of motivation. Led by Megan Maceratini, Grand Valley State wins its first-ever D2 cross title Saturday.

The Elite Eight

Men: Why is finishing in the top eight important? Because it gives your region an additional spot at the next year's nationals -- which might benefit your team. So, in addition to two teams from The Contenders pool, I expect Colorado Mines, Alaska-Anchorage, Chico State, Queens, Lock Haven and Mass.-Lowell to finish well. Of these teams, I would be least surprised if coach Michael Freiss' Anchorage nosed up into a top three spot. Can you believe the school's best-ever finish is 11th? Won't be after this weekend.

Women: Shippensburg, Pittsburg State, Alaska-Anchorage, Chico State, Tampa and Augustana. Shippensburg could be a top three team.

The Field

Well, this is everybody else. Make no mistake: Qualifying for nationals isn't easy. 253 men's and womens teams try, but only 24 each succeed. For some, qualifying is the ultimate prize. But there are a few teams I could see rising out of the pack, finishing well, and -- who knows? -- creating a future D2 cross power. This could be teams like Bellarmine, Drury or Western Oregon. Alaska-Anchorage and Colorado Mines have certainly "arrived."

Championship week

2010-12-01T16:18:00.002-07:00

It's championship week -- the biggest in D2-land -- but you wouldn't exactly know it by reading this blog. (Blame it on a verrrrrry slow innanet connection over Thanksgiving.) Here's what I've got in mind for coverage:

The Favorites: I'll break down men's and women's teams into three categories: Title contenders, Elite Eight and The Field.
The Personalities: I'll profile a few of the more interesting individual runners in this year's field -- and not necessarily the favorites.
The Race: Any last-minute race info and (nearly) immediate post-race analysis.

The fun starts Saturday morning!

East region: Lowell's Veiga makes a statement

2010-11-22T10:40:00.004-07:00

What a run by Mass.-Lowell junior Jeff Veiga. Emerging as the team's top runner only at the conference meet, he powers away from the field and bests last year's national third-placer (Glarius Rop) to storm the East region meet. Mass.-Lowell easily won the meet, with Stonehill, as predicted second.
I admit that College of St. Rose was not on my radar. But they're off to nationals as region runners-up, as are convincing champs Stonehill. American International's Jeptui Cherutich won the women's event and should factor in the individual race in Louisville.
One question: Why is the East regional on Sunday? I hope it's tradition -- and not some bureaucratic reason.

Regionals day: Adams State, Alaska-Anchorage, Grand Valley State, Queens storm regional meets

2010-11-20T09:27:00.010-07:00

9:28 a.m. (MST): That Lock Haven men won the Atlantic region isn't much of a surprise, but they did so in dominant fashion over Shippensburg. Nathan Zondlo (Lock Haven), nice race!
Meshack Koyiacki (Columbus State) beat Michael Crouch (Queens) for the third time this season in the South East. That Koyiacki kid is tough...

FYI: This is THE link for results.

11:58 a.m.: Neeley Spence (Shippensburg) and wins by nearly a minute in the Atlantic. Kutztown women surprisingly second to Ship. As I impatiently wait for other results.

12:25 p.m.: The South region pretty much goes to form, but the Florida Southern men nearly upset Harding. Daniel Kirwa (Harding) repeats. And perhaps there is some certainty in the South Central region, as all the predicted faves make it through: Central Missouri, Abilene Christian for the men (though not in a runaway), and Pittsburg State, Midwestern State and Missouri Southern for the women. Amos Sang (Abilene Christian) stamped his authority on the race. Can the Charlotte doubler win in Louisville?

12:39 p.m.: Am I good or what? (I'd say "lucky."). Kate Griewisch (Lenoir-Rhyme) win in the South East. Queens and King proceed. That's a first for King!

1:01 p.m.: Adams State men dominates the Central, putting all seven in front of Western State's second. Wow. But Colorado Mines' Ben Zywicki pulls a minor upset, winning the race. Mines, Augustana and Metro State also make it through.

I got my Central women's predictions mixed up. Adams beats Western, Augustana does finish third, but Minnesota-Duluth misses out by three points to Mary. Argh! Long-shot Regis is sixth.

1:24 p.m.: Could the men's and women's national title races in Louisville come down to Adams State vs. Grand Valley State? Grand Valley State literally ran away with both races at the Midwest regional (on the same course). The men had a 23-second pack time, and Tyler Emmorey (GVSU) won. The women: 33 seconds. Very impressive.

Other qualifiers for the men: Southern Indiana, (hosts) Bellarmine and Drury. A coupla surprises on the women's side, as Ferris State (led by women's winner Christina Muir) and Hillsdale advance.

Much later: OK, I'm not going to wait for those East Regional results any longer. (Sunday....!) Didja see Alaska-Anchorage pulled the double out West? Yep, a five-point win for the men and a 15-point win for the women -- both over Chico State. Anchorage could finish as high as third in Louisville. (Just another road trip!)

Western Washington and Western Oregon will make the trip from the men's side, as both those squads join Cal Poly Pomona and BYU Hawaii on the women's.

West region: Chico State vs. Alaska-Anchorage

2010-11-19T22:15:00.003-07:00

In the Southeast, it’s Queens. In the Midwest, it’s Grand Valley State. In the Atlantic, it’s Shippensburg. Certain teams dominate the landscape in D2 cross country regions. In the West, that’s Chico State.
Or is it? Alaska-Anchorage figures to give the Wildcats a stern challenge. Saturday will be their ~~first~~second tangle of the season. I like the Chico State men and the Anchorage women to win.
In an earlier post, I mistakenly asserted that the Central region gets the most teams to nationals. Nope. The West will have 10 (!) representatives in Louisville. So there’s plenty of room for regional hosts Western Washington and Western Oregon men’s and women’s teams. Additional women’s teams will be Cal Poly Pomona and, maybe, Alaska-Fairbanks?
Individually, a sweep for Anchorage (Marko Cheseto (pictured) and Mirian Kipng’eno).

Southeast region: Queens. Period.

2010-11-19T20:38:00.002-07:00

I always have great designs to get these regional previews done early. And here we are, with about 26 hours until the first qualifiers cross the line. So it goes...
Mount Olive, King College. Not teams I would’ve guessed lining up for nationals in two weeks’ time. And yet the Mount Olive men and King College women are poised to do just that.
Certainly, the class of the Southeast are Queens of Charlotte, N.C., hosts of last year’s outdoor nationals. But add the above two newbies and you nearly have the field. The men get an additional spot, which will go to Columbus State, led by likely regional champ Meshack Koyiacki. Am I right to assume Kate Griewisch (Lenoir-Rhyne, pictured) will win the women’s race again?

Women’s race is South Central region highlight -- winner is anyone’s guess

2010-11-19T09:41:00.001-07:00

If there’s one thing consistent about the South Central region, it is inconsistency. Missouri Southern swept both titles last year, but will be happy to qualify for Louisville this year. Only five spots are available for nationals -- two men’s, three women’s. I sense this region is deeper than that.
Well-beaten by Missouri Southern and Midwestern State at the Southern Stampede, but a very good third-place at the Cowboy Jamboree, Pittsburg State is the highest-ranked women’s team. Missouri Southern and Midwestern State are the others. Who will win? I’m going to take the easy way out and say all three will qualify. And does anyone know if Dani Dell’Orco (Truman State) is healthy?
Central Missouri men look to atone for missing out last year. Abilene Christian has been steady -- although a shadow of recent years past -- and will also qualify (and Amos Sang (pictureed) will win the men’s race). If they falter, how about Eastern New Mexico?

South region: Harding the big fish here

2010-11-19T09:22:00.001-07:00

I am wading into some unfamiliar territory here. I am, however, familiar with Daniel Kirwa and Coach Steve Guymon’s Harding University. Expect national champ Kirwa and Guymon’s charges to dominate the men’s race in Huntsville, Ala. And a steady Florida Southern should nab the second spot.
Tampa, which ventured north for the Paul Short Invite at Lehigh, Penn., and held its own against D1 Florida and Florida State, clearly leads the women’s field. Hosts Alabama-Huntsville will likely edge Harding for the second women’s spot. My best guess at the individual battle pits Huntsville’s Jennifer Cherono against Tampa’s Heather Nicolosi (pictured), who won the Gulf South Conference race by about a minute!

Midwest region: Grand Valley gets another course test drive

2010-11-18T11:55:00.002-07:00

This year (for the women) and next year (for the men) are when Grand Valley State will challenge for a national title.
Junior engineering major and steeple All-American Tyler Emmorey (pictured) leads the heralded group of underclassmen, who have this year and next to at least notch a best-ever team finish. So why can they afford to look to next year? GVSU’s top five features nary a senior. Why is this year exciting? At their conference meet, they perfect-scored. Pack time? 16.3 seconds. First things first, they have to advance from the regional race in Louisville. S. Indiana (which has done a nice job after losing a top-5 runner to Western), Drury, Ashland and whoever else wll be left shooting for second.
For the women, the time is now. Not only do they have a deep team, but they get another dress rehearsal on the nationals course. To wit:

Megan Maceratini leads the Lakers and will make up for last year’s 156th-place finish..
Indoor and outdoor mile runner-up Monica Kinney didn’t run at conference, but is solid.
Kylen Cieslak transferred from Northwoods and has been a regular top-five finisher on the team.
Katherine McCarthy and Jessie Vickers are returning All-Americans.
Rebecca Winchester redshirted last fall.

And I’ve probably missed somebody. Again, the regional meet is the first act. It would be cool to see host Bellarmine qualify as hosts, like S. Indiana did last year. But this meet serves as a tune-up for future national champions -- not only this year, but perhaps next.

East region: Mass.-Lowell or Stonehill? Both

2010-11-17T08:58:00.002-07:00

The East region is one of four regions with the minimum of two national qualifying spots. And unless an outsider like Southern Connecticut has an amazing day, those two will be Mass.-Lowell and Stonehill. More specficially, Lowell (led by Angus MacDonald) will take the men’s race, and Stonehill will take the women’s.
The individual titles belong to American International athletes. While Jeptui Cherutich (pictured) might not be ready to beat Neely Spence (Shippensburg) in Louisville, Glarius Rop won’t surprise anyone this year.

Central region: The usual suspects...but will Minnesota-Duluth miss out?

2010-11-16T12:34:00.002-07:00

It’s the smallest (by number of teams), but qualifies the most. The Central region usually produces the winners of the national meet. And it’s usually one of these two teams: Adams State orWestern State. Both will qualify both men’s and women’s teams, though the women’s winner will be close. My gut tells me Adams men (with Ryan McNiff (pictured) leading the way) and Western women (ditto for Sophie McNeeley). You know my bias: I’ll be rooting for Adams in both.
But what is perhaps more interesting is the three-way battle for the remaining two women’s spots. The men get five qualifiers. It’ll be Colorado Mines, Metro State and Augustana.
The Augie women pulled a big-time upset at the Northern Sun meet. Their young team (all frosh and sophs) will be close to home, which will work in their favor. And in spite of their stumble, Minn.-Duluth will tighten up their pack and beat out a very good Mary squad (with the nation’s best-named runner, Dakota Wolf) and qualify for Louisville. (Another disclosure: I recently lived in Duluth for 2 ½ years, so I’m familiar with UMD’s squad.)

Atlantic region: Shippensburg, for sure

2010-11-16T08:56:00.002-07:00

Expect the Atlantic region to be a repeat of the Penn State Athletic Conference race two weeks ago. And that means Shippensburg will take the top team podium spots. I suspect Neely Spence (Shippensburg) will be rounding into top fitness. The Edinboro women appear to be Louisville-bound.
The race to watch is on the men’s side: Lock Haven and Edinboro vying for the second (and last) spot to nationals. I’m leaning toward Lock Haven, but if Scott Anderson (Edinboro, pictured) wins again, look out.

Early conference read: Adams men; Augie and Western women impress

2010-11-07T21:41:00.008-07:00

It is hard to know what performances mean at conference championships.
For example, it appears that Adams State men will get the best of Western State this year. Adams recorded a decisive 30-42 win at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference meet in Las Vegas (uh, New Mexico). If anything, the Adams team appears to be in churn, with Edwin Cruz and Keegan Calmes impressing, while Luke Cragg perhaps had an off day. And I'm kinda wondering where Matt Bond is. Another indication of depth?
Western State's top five were the same quintet that had the awesome pack time at the Fort Hays State meet. But a 25-second gap between Ryan Haebe and Tyler Rasmussen wasn't enough for the win. Again, Tyler Pennel didn't run (and apparently won't??).
Western State's women came up big, besting their rivals by 11 points. Is that only because ~~steeple champ~~ Cassie Mitchell wasn't at the front for Adams? (Correction: Steeple champ Alicia Nelson didn't run.)
And, yes, fair readers, No. 18 Augustana women's win over No. 10 Mary and No. 7 Minnesota-Duluth did not escape me. More on that to come...

What’s going on in Alaska?

2010-11-05T08:08:00.003-06:00

When you think of Alaska cross country, you might think of Sarah Palin. You shouldn’t. Alaska-Anchorage men’s and women’s teams are on track to post their best-ever finishes at a national meet.
Certainly, head coach Michael Freiss recruits just as heavily from the Rift Valley (or thereabouts) as he does from the Skagit Valley (or thereabouts). But the team faces other challenges that most programs don’t, primarily travel. Although it may be hard to shed a tear for a program that opens with two meets at Hawaii, the team will make a total of seven trips to the mainland (and Hawaii).
Another challenge for this bunch: The start time in Louisville will be 7 a.m. Alaskan time.
But along the way, the Seawolves have excelled. Marko Cheseto (pictured) leads the men’s team should win the regional title in two weeks.. But the key to the men’s No. 8 ranking could be the return of Alaskan and 2008 All-American Jake Parisien and the transfer of Yonatan Yilma. Two Kenyans and three Alaskans form the core of UAA’s No. 4 women’s program.
In perhaps their best meet of the season, Cheseto and Miriam Kipng’eno won the individual races at the highly competitive Willamette Invite in Oregon. Both are the teams to beat in the Great Northwest Conference. (At the conclusion of last season, I woulda picked W. Washington and Seattle Pacific.) They’ll tangle with Western Region foe Chico State at regionals; don’t be surprised if UAA sweeps all four trophies.

Note: Photo from goseawolves.com

For Shippensburg, should be an Atlantic breeze

2010-10-26T07:56:00.002-06:00

If you’re a betting man, put your cash on Shippensburg to win both races in the Atlantic Regional.
The Shippensburg men made their case for the sickest pack time of 2010: 14 seconds at the Kutztown D2 invite last weekend. Led by sophomore Matt Gillette (second overall in a modest 25:37), the Raiders will need to keep close together to place against teams with front-runners in Louisville. (In perhaps a preview of the East Region, S. Connecticut was third and No. 12 Mass.-Lowell sixth. S. Connecticut is coached by ex-Adams Staters John Wallin and Nick Lara.)
Matching the men’s 20-point effort were the Shippensburg women, led by the again-very-fast Neely Spence. The women would’ve had a good pack time, too, if Neely and teammate Mary Dell hadn’t been so dern far ahead. As it was, their 3-7 runners came in within 21 seconds of each other.
The Raidettes are ranked No. 3 nationally. Expect them to move up if either of the “States” (Adams or Grand Valley) falter in Louisville.

Koyiacki 2, Crouch 0

2010-10-19T15:06:00.004-06:00

No, they didn’t play a game of soccer. Or best-of-three ping pong.
But Meshack Koyiacki (Columbus State) was able to beat Michael Crouch (Queens) for the second time in three weeks -- on Crouch’s home course.
How does Crouch close a 5-second gap? It’ll come down to coaching, and whether each (Columbus State’s J.D. Evilsizer or Queens’ Scott Simmons) can peak his man at the right time. On paper, Simmons has deep experience doing so, but we’ll see. After Saturday's meet Simmons had this to say: "We approached the race as a workout, starting out slowly and moving up mile by mile."
Crouch will have an extra mile to erase that gap in the first weekend of December.

How long for Western State pack to cross the line? Try 14.3 seconds

2010-10-18T12:57:00.001-06:00

On the dusty, windy plains of western Kansas (It was windy, right? Isn’t is always?), a statement was made in the D2 world.
No. 5 Western State -- yeah, a lot of steeplechasers and 5kers best known for peaking just at the right time (like nationals) -- had a 14.3-second pack time to handily defeat previously No. 2 Colorado Mines. 14.3 seconds? Are you kidding me? If this Western team has the identity of past ones, it’s a bit frightening to think how they’ll come together in December.
Western’s top five: Gabe Proctor, Sean Brown, Ryan Haebe, David Flynn and Tyler Rasmussen. Notice who is missing: Tyler Pennel, 13th in Evansville.
We won’t really know how good Western is until at the earliest the Central Region meet -- in the dusty, windy plains of northeastern Nebraska.

Introducing....Meshack Koyiacki of Columbus State

2010-10-12T08:00:00.002-06:00

He lists his parents as most influential and his grandfather as his hero. His athletic idol is 800m world record-holder David Rushida. And he likes ping pong. Meshack Koyiacki can also be considered a favorite for D2 nationals in Louisville.
The Columbus State (Ga.) junior’s progress is remarkable. In Evansville last fall, he was ninth. Last spring, his best result was a 3:48 metric mile. At Chattahoochee Tech (a junior college), he ran a 9:18 steeple. Yet on the Tom E. Sawyer State Park course that will serve as the national championship route, he blasted a 23:20 to win the Louisville Open, besting decorated D2ers Michael Crouch (Queens) and Daniel Kirwa (Harding).
Koyiacki will likely lead Columbus State to its best-ever nationals finish for Coach J.D. Evilsizer. Last year was the team’s second appearance at nationals, where they finished 19th. Columbus State is ranked 2nd in the Southeast Region and should make the trip to nationals, ~~even though the region gets only two qualifying spots this year.~~ and the region gets three spots this year.
Until then, Koyiacki will meet Crouch this weekend (Oct. 16) at Queens’ Royal Cross Country Challenge. Then, for Koyiacki, it’s the Peach Belt Conference, Southeast regionals (again at Queens) and nationals.

Reinstatement of Adams’ Huffer no surprise

2010-10-07T08:01:00.006-06:00

While Adams State’s margin of victory over Western State at last weekend’s Rocky Mountain Shootout was a bit deceiving -- Western was without Tyler Pennel, Tyler Rasmussen -- a much-debated recruit made his ASC debut.
Australian Craig Huffer was third man for the Grizzlies, eighth overall. (And the 3:36 performer says he’s not good at cross!)
Huffer, ~~older~~younger brother of ASC’s Dean Huffer (73rd at the Shootout), has been criticized for making money on the track, and subsequently entering the “amateur” world of the NCAA. A school press release said Huffer “had to go through a lengthy NCAA reinstatement of amateurism process.” Huffer also said "the conditions of my reinstatement will place long-term financial strain on me and my family.” It appears he wants to run with his brother and for Adams State.
I hadn’t heard of the NCAA’s reinstatement process, although I had heard of Georgia wide receiver AJ Green earning reinstatement after selling jerseys. He repaid about $1,700 and was benched for awhile.
But reinstatements apparently are common.
The NCAA Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatment apparently hears 1,000 similar requests each year, with “99 percent of these requests result[ing] in the student-athlete being reinstated.”
What isn’t debatable is the impact Huffer will have on the D2 world -- and Adams State’s chances of winning an eighth D2 title and 20th overall national team championship.