The post season is now upon us, with most conference races being run this upcoming weekend. While conference races do not determine if a team or individual moves on to regional or national races, rivalries between conference teams is often fierce; winning these races give teams conference bragging rights. There will be many hard fought races and exciting action this upcoming weekend. As usual, I encourage readers to supplement my article by contributing their knowledge about various individuals, teams, and conferences.

 

California Collegiate Athletic Association- Last year, Chico State’s men captured the California Collegiate Athletic Association team title with 20 points, placing six runners in the top seven. Cal State Stanislaus’s Vincente Moreno was the past winner of the individual title, but this year look for Chico State’s Scott Bauhs to take home the title.

 Last year, Cal State L.A.’s women took five of the top eight places to capture the women’s California Collegiate Athletic Association team title with 24 points over Chico State who scored 50 points.  Cal State L.A.’s Karla Alburez won the 2007 individual title with a time of 20:55. This year look for Cal State L.A.’s Vivien Wadeck and UC San Diego’s Bre Schofield to be in contention for the  individual title.

Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference
 2007 team title holder, the men’s squad from Felician College’s, won their fourth straight conference title with 22 points. In 2007, Felician’s Paul Chegwidden won the individual title in a time of 25:34. This year look for Philadelphia University’s Shawn D’Andrea, the favorite to take home the individual title.

Last year Georgian Court University’s women’s team won their second straight title with 57 points ahead of Felician College who scored 72 points. Last year’s winner, Georgian Court’s Heather Miara, ran a course record of 19:23. This year, Philadelphia University’s Sarah Simonetti and Georgian Court’s Julienne Reilly should be in contention for the individual title. 

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
 Last year, Virginia State’s men’s team won its first ever conference championship, placing five runners in the top eleven and finishing with 40 points. Ken Samoei won the men's individual title in 25:05 over the 8k course. This year’s individual title seems to be wide open, with no heavy favorites.

Saint Augustine’s women were the conference title winners last year. They placed five runners in the top ten, scoring 26 points. Last year, Saint Augustine’s Erica Young won the individual title completing the 5k course in 20:08. Virginia freshman sensation, Jenna Arnold, should add some excitement to this women’s race. 

Conference Carolinas
 Last year, Queens University’s men’s team scored 45 points to capture the conference title, and are the favorite for this year’s title. Queen’s Daniel Kanyaruhuru won last year’s individual title and has since graduated. It will be an exciting race with Queen’s Michael Crouch, St. Andrew’s Mitch Cooper, and Anderson’s Nate Parsons all in the mix.

Last year’s women title winner, the women’s squad from Lee McRae, finished with a team score of 51 points, defeating Anderson University by 27. Anderson University’s Jennifer Hitt won the individual conference title last year and has since graduated. Anderson’s Whitney Bishoff is a favorite for this year’s title, but St. Andrew’s Alyson Trovato has run some pretty impressive times this season and could also capture the title.

East Coast Conference
 Last year, The NYIT men’s cross country team captured its first conference championship with a score of 30 points. Adelphi are looking good this year as they are currently ranked 4^th in the region.  Last year’s winner was NYIT’s Evans Kigen, who has since graduated. NYIT’s Nicholas Koiyet and STAC’s Elmer Eckert should have stand-out performances and are the main challengers for the title.

 Last year, the Adelphi University women’s cross country captured their second consecutive team title, scoring an impressively low 31 points by placing five runners in the top ten.  Currently ranked 1st regionally, the team is also the favorite for this year’s title . Adelphi’s Ify Anene captured the individual title last year by running 19:21 over the 5k course, and is looking to be the repeat champion this year. She will be challenged by Queen’s Indira Avilia and C.W. Post’s Kristen Sweeney.

Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
 Last year, Grand Valley State’s men’s team took the conference title with a low score of 19 points, placing their top five runners in the top seven places.  Last year’s winner was Grand Valley State senior Nate Peck, who finished the 8k course in 25:21. With Peck gone, a new group of runners will challenge for the title including: Wayne State’s Abullah Saleh, Grand Valley State’s Tyler Emmory, and Ferris State’s Mike Mangieri.

Grand Valley State’s also won the women’s team title last year. Wayne State’s Rachelle Malette took the individual title, completing the 6k course in 22:00.  Malette will be back to defend her title, and should be challenged by Ferris State’s Tina Muir and Grand Valley State’s Megan Maceratini.

Great Lakes Valley Conference
 Last year, Southern Indiana’s men took the team title with 41 points ahead of Northern Kentucky, who finished with 66 points.  Last year’s winner was Southern Indiana’s Paul Jellema, who has since graduated. Look for Drury’s Jaime Villa Zapatero and Lewis’s Andy Lepkowski to challenge for the title.

 Last year, Wisconsin Parkside’s women captured the team conference title with 46 points besting Southern Indiana, who scored 75 points.  Wisconsin Parkside’ss Jessica Lamp took the individual title with a 6k time of 21:38. She will be back this year with a new last name (Monson) to defend her title.  Look for Southern Indiana’s Mary Ballinger and Lewis’s Kathryn Hague to challenge Monson for the title.

Great Northwest Athletic Conference
 Last year, Western Washington’s men captured the men’s team title with 35 points  Last year’s men’s race winner was SMU’s John Riak, who will be back to defend his title. Look for him to be challenged by Alaska Anchorage’s David Kiplagat and Western Oregon’s Braxton Jackson and Mike Schmidt.

Seattle Pacific is looking for its 4^th conference title after winning last year’s race with 24 points.  Jessica Pixler, who won last year’s 6k race in 20:53,  is looking to take her third consecutive title.   . Her main challenge will come from her teammate Jane Larson.

Gulf South Conference
 Last year, the University of Alabama in Huntsville won its first men’s conference title with 40 points. Look for Harding to challenge for the men’s title this year. Last year’s winner was Harding's James Cheruiyot, who finished the 8k course in a time of 25:35. The favorite for the title this year is Harding’s Daniel Kirwa, who has won several major meets, including the Memphis Twilight and Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree.

Last year, the Harding women took their third straight team conference title, barely edging the University of Alabama Huntsville by one point (31 points to 32). This year should prove to be another tight competition. Last year’s individual winner was Harding’s Janee Jones. This year, look for Harding’s Rysper Sirma to have a strong race.

Heartland Conference (already completed)
 The Cardinals from the University of the Incarnate Word won the men’s Heartland Conference Championship on Saturday, October 18, on the campus of Dallas Baptist University.   The Cardinals ran to a dominating win, with six men finishing in the top ten and scoring 29 points. Dallas Baptist finished 2^nd with 61 points. St. Edward’s David Fuentes won his second straight conference championship, taking the individual 8k title in a time of 25:43. He was followed by Dallas Baptist’s Felix Rodriguez, who ran 26:38.

Dallas Baptist’s women’s team took home the team title with 23 points, followed by Newman with 63 points. Hannah Steffan, from Dallas Baptist, won the individual championship, covering the 6k course in 23:04.  Second place finisher was Steffan’s teammate, Linet Kibet, who ran a time of 23:21.

Lone Star Conference
 Last year, Abilene Christian finished with 23 points over East central (64 points). The 2007 men’s race came down to a photo finish with Abilene Christian’s Serge Gasore completed the 8k course in 24:47.79, barely besting his teammate Julius Nyango, who ran 24:47.82. Look for a repeat performance between the two seniors.

Last year, Abilene Christian’s (53 points) women beat out Tarleton State University (84 points) to win their seventh straight conference title. Abilene Christian’s Loice Cheboi won the women’s individual title with a 6k time of 22:04. Cheboi is back to defend her title. She will be challenge by West Texas A&M's Jeniffer Cherono and teammate Winrose Karunde.

Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association
 Last year, Missouri Southern’s men won their third straight MIAA cross country championship by scoring 40 points. Missouri Southern’s Dustin Dixon took top honors running the 8k course in 26:07. Dixon does not appear be competing this year after being injured last year. Look for Emporia State’s Skyler Delmott, Southwest Baptist’s Shawn Etzenhouser, and Missouri Southern’s Jarkko Jarvenpaa to challenge for the title.

Last year, Missouri Southern’s women  captured the conference title with 43 points over Pittsburg State who scored 75. Emporia State’s Jonel Rossbach, who won the individual title with a time of 22:06, has graduated. Look for last year’s 2^nd place finisher, Missouri Southern’s Kimi Shank, to make a strong push for the individual title.

Northeast 10 Conference
Last season,  Stonehill and UMass Lowell tied for first place by scoring 35 points, thus sharing the men’s conference title. Expect both teams to work hard to win the title outright this year. Last year’s winner, UMass Lowell’s Stephen DeWitt, covered the 8k course in a time of 25:07. He won over his teammate, Ruben Sanca, who ran 25:21.  Sanca appears to be running well, taking 2^nd at the New England Championships. Expect Stonehill’s Kevin Gill to be in the mix with DeWitt and Sanca.

 Last year, Stonehill’s women won the conference title with 38 points over UMass Lowell (48 points) by placing their top five runners in the top fifteen places.  Bryant’s Nicole Radzik won the individual title with a 5k time of 18:28 last year. This year, the field is wide open, which  should make for an interesting race.

Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
 Last year, the MSU Moorhead men’s and women’s cross country teams both took home top honors. The men won with 38 points over Wayne State (64 points). The women won their second title, edgeding out the previous year’s champion, Wayne State, by scoring 50 points to Wayne State’s 55. This year, the teams have additional competition, as new squads from the former North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference have been  to the NSIC conference.

 The 2007 men’s individual title went to Nate Preston of Wayne State, who ran the 8k course in a time of 25:50. Preston is back this year to defend his title. The women’s individual title went to MSU Moorhead’s Anna Vanwechel, who ran the 6k course in 22:34, and who is also back  to defend her title. Look for Minnesota Duluth’s Morgan Pace to challenge Vanwechel.

Pacific West Championship-

Last year, The Hawaii Pacific men’s cross country team took home the Hawaiian Airlines Pacific West Champion with a two point victory over host school Notre Dame de Namur. BYU Hawaii’s Golden Harper took individual laurels with a time of 26:23. This year, look for Hawaii Pacific duo of Kevin Malley, and Andreas Schwab, along with BYU-Hawaii’s Thomas Rivers Puzey, to be in the lead group.

Last year, University of Hawaii Hilo won the Hawaiian Airlines Pacific West Conference women’s cross country championship. BYU Hawaii’s Amanda Whitford took the individual title, finishing the 5k course in 18:54, and she looks to defend it again this year.

PSAC-Last year, the Edinboro men’s cross country team placed three of its runners in the top five, to slip past Slippery Rock to win the team title. Matt Bluman took the individual title, covering the 8k course in 26:18, 3.5 seconds ahead of second place finisher Dave Niemira of Edinboro. This year, look for Slippery Rock’s Pat Reagan and California’s Christopher Clark to be in the front.

Last year, the Bloomsburg women’s cross team took top honors to win the conference championships. They scored 65 points to runner up Indiana University of PA’s 99 points. Clarion University’s Erin Richards completed the 6k course in 23:02. This year look for freshman Neely Spence to take the title and to lead Shippensburg to a conference win.

Peach Belt Conference
Last year, the Columbus State men’s and women’s teams took the Peach Belt Conference title. The men edged out Clayton state by 6 points, scoring 41 points to Clayton’s 47 points. Clayton State’s Walid Berkedle won the 8k course in 26:43. This year look for Clayton’s Fidelis to take the individual title.

 Last year, Columbus State’s women won their third straight title, placing three runners in the top five. They scored 39 points beating host, Augusta State, who was second with 46 points. It should be a close contest again this year.  Last year, Columbus’s Isabel Speer covered the very hilly 5k in 20:02 and has since graduated. Look for Clayton’s Allison Kreutzer to add to her five wins this season.

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
 Last year, The Adams State College teams swept both the team and individual titles for the second time in three years. It should be a exciting competition this year, with three of the top six teams nationally ranked teams competing: Adams State, Western State, and Colorado School of the Mines. Last year,  Aaron Braun won the individual title with a time of 25:16, beating Western State’s Scott Dahlberg by only one second. Look for Aaron Braun to repeat as RMAC champion.

The women’s team posted a score of 22 points to win the team title over Western State, who scored 50 points. Brittany Somers beat out 99 runners to claim the individual title, finishing the 6k course in 22:33.50. This year, look for UC Colorado Spring’s Shannon Payne and Adams State’s Heather Wood to contend for the title.

South Atlantic Conference
 Last year, Mars Hill’s men finished with 23 points to take the win. Wingate’s Jayce Watson, who had an impressive performance last year running a 25:06 over the all terrain 8k course, will be back to defend his title.

Last year, the Wingate women had 51 points to top runner-up Lenoir-Rhyne (80 points). Carson Newman’s Aubrey Morris won the women’s individual title with a time of 19:13 over the 5k course. Look for Wingate’s Amber Hines and Lenoir Rhyne’s Genna Eisenmann to challenge Morris for the title.

Sunshine State Conference
Last year, Florida Southern College men’s team was crowned conference champions, scoring 26 points. University of Tampa came in second with 42 points. Florida Southern’s Luke Beevor ran 26:30 to win the individual 8k title. Look for Nova Southeastern sophomore Jeff Palmer to race for the title

Last year, the University of Tampa women’s team took home the team title with a low score of 18 points. They placed their top seven in the top twelve. Florida Southern College was second with 53 points. Tampa’s Laura Woznicki turned in a dominating performance winning conference in 21:38 for a 6k course. In the women’s race look for Tampa’s Jessica Forrester to push for the title.

West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic
Last year, Concord’s men placed five runners in top ten to take the conference team with 37 points. West Virginia Wesleyan’s Eric Cooper defended his individual title with a 26:08 over an 8k course. Look for West Virginia Wesleyan duo of Barry Franklin and Nate Edwards along with Seton Hill’s Mike Ortiz to make up an exciting race.

Last year, West Virginia Wesleyan’s women had three finishers in the top six to take the conference team title with 37 points. Seton Hill’s Anna Cote completed the 6k course in 23:58 to take the individual title. She will be back to defend her title and will be challenged by Wheeling Jesuit’s Sarah Campanelli and West Virginia Wesleyan’s Brenna Hagerty.