Release courtesy of Tom Lewis, Communications Manager, USTFCCCA
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released its national and regional team preseason rankings for the 2011 NCAA Division II cross country season. The men’s team of Adams State College was picked as the season’s first No. 1 team as the Grizzlies will be defending a three-peat of NCAA crowns.
For the complete release on the USTFCCCA website click here
Adams State has won the past three NCAA cross country titles and took last year’s event, 57-102, over nearest challenger current-No. 2 Western State. At last year’s snowy championships, Adams State placed five of their runners in the race’s top 25. Of that group, Craig Hugger and Keegan Calmes are expected to return along with Edwin Cruz and Nathaniel Sellers who were ASU’s six and seven, placing in the race’s top 35.
The preseason top six in the men’s rankings follow the exact order of finish from the 2010 NCAA Cross Country Championships as Grand Valley State stands at No. 3, followed by No.4 Colorado Mines, No. 5 Chico State, and No. 6 Augustana (S.D.).
The RMAC placed six men’s teams in the national top 25 to lead all conferences. Along with having three of the nation’s top four ranked teams, the RMAC has No. 17 Metro State, No. 21 New Mexico Highlands, and No. 23 Neb.-Kearney ranked in the preseason. The GLVC, GNAC, and PSAC follow with three teams in the top 25 apiece.
USTFCCCA D-II Men's Cross Country National Team Rankings |
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Rank |
Institution |
Region |
Conference |
Location |
2010 FINAL |
1 |
Adams State |
Central |
RMAC |
Alamosa, Colo. |
1 |
2 |
Western State |
Central |
RMAC |
Gunnison, Colo. |
2 |
3 |
Grand Valley State |
Midwest |
GLIAC |
Allendale, Mich. |
3 |
4 |
Colorado Mines |
Central |
RMAC |
Golden, Colo. |
4 |
5 |
Chico State |
West |
CCAA |
Chico, Calif. |
5 |
6 |
Augustana (S.D.) |
Central |
NSIC |
Sioux Falls, S.D. |
6 |
7 |
Southern Indiana |
Midwest |
GLVC |
Evansville, Ind. |
10 |
8 |
Lock Haven |
Atlantic |
PSAC |
Lock Haven, Pa. |
11 |
9 |
Edinboro |
Atlantic |
PSAC |
Edinboro, Pa. |
DNQ |
10 |
Shippensburg |
Atlantic |
PSAC |
Shippensburg, Pa. |
7 |
11 |
UMass Lowell |
East |
Northeast-10 |
Lowell, Mass. |
13 |
12 |
Alaska Anchorage |
West |
GNAC |
Anchorage, Alaska |
8 |
13 |
Queens (N.C.) |
Southeast |
Conf. Carolinas |
Charlotte, N.C. |
12 |
14 |
Central Missouri |
South Central |
MIAA |
Warrensburg, Mo. |
16 |
15 |
Metro State |
Central |
RMAC |
Denver, Colo. |
17 |
16 |
Bellarmine |
Midwest |
GLVC |
Louisville, Ky. |
22 |
17 |
East Central (Okla.) |
South Central |
Great American |
Ada, Okla. |
DNQ |
18 |
Ashland |
Midwest |
GLIAC |
Ashland, Ohio |
DNQ |
19 |
Western Washington |
West |
GNAC |
Bellingham, Wash. |
9 |
20 |
Stonehill |
East |
Northeast-10 |
Easton, Mass. |
21 |
21 |
New Mexico Highlands |
Central |
RMAC |
Las Vegas, N.M. |
DNQ |
22 |
Western Oregon |
West |
GNAC |
Monmouth, Ore. |
20 |
23 |
Neb.-Kearney |
Central |
RMAC |
Kearney, Neb. |
DNQ |
24 |
Cal Poly Pomona |
West |
CCAA |
Pomona, Calif. |
DNQ |
25 |
UW Parkside |
Midwest |
GLVC |
Kenosha, Wis. |
DNQ |
USTFCCCA Midwest Region |
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Rank |
School |
Location |
Conference |
Last Week |
1 |
Grand Valley State |
Allendale, Mich. |
GLIAC |
1 |
2 |
Southern Indiana |
Evansville, Ind. |
GLVC |
2 |
3 |
Bellarmine |
Louisville, Ky. |
GLVC |
3 |
4 |
Ashland |
Ashland, Ohio |
GLIAC |
5 |
5 |
UW Parkside |
Kenosha, Wis. |
GLVC |
6 |
6 |
Drury |
Springfield, Mo. |
GLVC |
3 |
7 |
Lewis |
Romeoville, Ill. |
GLVC |
9 |
8 |
Hillsdale |
Hillsdale, Mich. |
GLIAC |
10 |
9 |
Northern Kentucky |
Highland Heights, Ky. |
GLVC |
11 |
10 |
Ferris State |
Big Rapids, Mich. |
GLIAC |
12 |