DII Review: National and Regional Rankings

September 1, 2009

U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released last week their regional preseason rankings and later their National Rankings. I believe this would be a good jumping off point for some discussion. I will give the top three in each region for both men and women and last year’s National qualifiers. What I would like is if you agree or disagree and why. There were very few meets this past weekend but if you believe there were any worth noting let me know by leaving a comment below about the meet. If there is anything you would like to see for future columns let me know.

Atlantic
Men
1.Edinboro
2. Lockhaven
3.Shippensburg
Last year, Lock Haven won the team title with 51 points, followed by Edinboro (71).
Women
1.Shippensburg
2.Slippery Rock
3.Edinboro
Shippensburg took home the team title with 62 points and advanced along with Slippery Rock (97).
Central
Men
1.Adams State
2.Western State
3.Colorado School of the Mines
Last year, Adams State took home the team title with 33 points and advanced to Nationals. Western State (52) and Minn. St. Mankato (108) rounded out the top three.
Women
1. Adams State
2. Augustana (South Dakota)
3. Western State
Adams State took home the team title with 30 points, placing their top five in the top fifteen places. They were followed by Augustana (81) and Western State (83).
East
Men
1.Stonehill
2.UMass Lowell
3.Southern Connecticut State
UMass Lowell won the team title with 43 points and advanced along with second place finisher Stonehill (54 points).
Women
1.Stonehill
2.Adelphi
3.Southern Connecticut State
UMass Lowell won the regional title with 46 points. Second place finisher was Stonehill (56 points).
Midwest
Men
1.Grand Valley State
2. Southern Indiana
3.Wayne State

Grand Valley State totaled 45 points, earning the men's overall title. Wayne State and Southern Indiana tied for second place (102) last year.
Women
1.Grand Valley State
2.Southern Indiana
3.Ferris State
Grand Valley (35) took the title last year over Wayne State (90) and Ferris State (111) Wayne State drops out of the top three with the lost of their top runner, Rachelle Malette.
South
Men
1.Harding
2.UAH
3.Flordia Southern
Harding took the team title with 15 points last year and was followed in second by UAH (92).
Women
1.Tampa
2.Harding
3.UAH
Tampa won the team title with 28 points was followed by Harding (47 points).
South Central
Men
1.Abilene Christian
2.Southwest Baptist
3.Missouri Southern State
Abilene Christian grabbed the top six places on their way to win with 31 points over Missouri Southern (105 points) and Pittsburg State (149 points).
Women
1.Missouri Southern State
2.Midwestern State
3.Dallas Baptist
Missouri Southern took the team title with 88 points followed by Midwestern State (94) and Pittsburg State (105).

Southeast
Men
1. Queens of Charlotte
2.Columbus State
3.Clayton State
Queen’s took the team title with 19 points and were followed by Columbus State (87).
Women
1. Lees-McRae
2.Columbus State
3. Augusta State
Lee-McRae was the winner of team title (85 points) and second place was Augusta State (110).
West
Men
1.Chico State
2.Western Washington
3. Alaska Anchorage
Chico State garnered 28 points to easily earn the team crown, while second place Alaska Anchorage tallied 67. Western Washington’s 103 were good enough for third.
Women
1.Seattle Pacific
2.Chico State
3.Alaska Anchorage
Chico State took the team title with 60 points. They were followed by Seattle Pacific (92), Alaska Anchorage (104), Cal St. Los Angeles (114), and Western Washington (141).

National
Men
1.Adams State
2.Western State
3. Chico State
4.Abiliene Christian
5. Grand Valley State

Last year, Adams States took home top honors with 67 points, besting their rival Western (88). The top five was rounded out by Chico (120), last year’s winner, Abilene Christian (128), and Grand Valley (190). So basically, the USTFCCA did not change the rankings from the places that the first five finished last year.

Women
1.Adams State
2.Grand Valley State
3.Seattle Pacific
4.Shippensburg
5.Augustana (SD)

Last year, Adams State took their 6^th team title with 79 points. They were followed by Grand Valley (102), Western State (183), Seattle Pacific (194), and Augustana (203). In the coaching poll, Western dropped out of the top five and Seattle Pacific moved up.

Also, my team is heading to DII Pre-Nats this year, I would like to provide some type of coverage but I am racing. So if anyone is going to be there that thinks they could help message me.

Post a Comment

#19	Adam Ward September 7 at 7:21am Cara is exactly right. Every region in DII is guaranteed 2 "automatic" berths to nationals. The remaining "at-large" bids are based on the previous year's national championships results. The old rule was that any teams finishing in the top 8 would bring an extra bid (or bids) back to their region for the next year. The rule will change slightly after this year, but will still be basically the same idea. No committees, no points, no guess work. reply
#18	Cara Hawkins September 6 at 5:16pm Teamwise it varies how many make it from each region..Central has had up to five but the on the lesser end the Southeast has had only two, everybody gets two plus how many of the teams from that region placed in the top 10 the year before. reply
#17	Rich Moore September 6 at 3:42pm Yes, 3 from each region. reply
#16	Andrew Garai September 6 at 2:35pm how many from each region make it on to nationals? three? reply
#15	@ Overrater September 5 at 5:00pm Here are the teams with the most all-americans in XC last year: Adams State 5 Western State 4 Western Washington 3 Abilene 3 Chico State 3 Every other team beyond that had two or less. Granted, I did not include track all-americans, but that is a different sport. You clearly did not think before you posted "most teams in the country have four returning all-americans". reply
#14	Josiahprice September 5 at 8:37am Wait and see, you will eat your words. When all of the runners on WWU are healthy and ready to go, its hard to find a top 5 more capable than Bennet Grimes, Jordan Welling, Blake Medhaug and Anthony Tomsich. Any of those 5 runners is capable of running with the best. If they are all with it on the same day, watch out. Chico is a team of the past. Its going to come down to Alaska Anchorage and Western this year....and from what I think we can expect, WWU is going to be very, very hard to beat. reply
#13	Ian Moye September 4 at 3:35pm crouch runs in our conference he is nasty reply
#12	To Overrater September 3 at 8:36pm how do most teams have 4 returning all americans? how many earn all american. if that many teams have that many all americans it takes away the prestige of the honor. reply
#11	Overrater September 2 at 2:35am I agree that Western Washington is way overrated. They were only 10th last year at nationals. They only had three all-americans last year at XC nationals. And two-time track all-american Tomsich (3:47/14:30) who redshirted last year in XC isn't that much better than his other teammates at the 8k distance so far. Really, most teams in the country have 4 all-americans returning. Quit ranking WWU so high. reply
#10	Yeah Right September 1 at 11:58pm Western Washington is WAYYY overrated, gimme a break! Watch out for Grand Valley State, top 3 very possible. reply
#9	Cacc September 1 at 9:06pm I feel that Philadelphia U is poised for a very good year. 6th in the East region a year ago, everybody back and a pretty good transfer in dinucci from d1 towson. Not a philly u person, but a fellow coach in the conference. reply
#8	Runerman1 September 1 at 4:03pm oh gradnd valley is the under dog they have a fully funded program and should be a d1 its a joke! reply
#7	Believe It September 1 at 3:24pm can't wait to see that dude michael crouch win nationals!! reply
#6	Yeah Boy September 1 at 3:10pm you guys have no idea..look out reply
#5	Bigtime12 September 1 at 3:00pm In regards to the Midwest Regional, where is Ashland? They were 4th at the regional last year. Wayne State lost their number one to graduation, and that should effect them, and their place in the poll. I guess thats why polls are polls. reply
#4	Justdoit11 September 1 at 1:18pm UCM and SBU will be in the mix probably. Though it's a long season. reply
#3	Rich Moore September 1 at 1:00pm Hi Cara, In the Atlantic region I think the Millersville women have a good shot at making top 3 this year. They have Priscilla Jennings back and a tight pack for the next 5 or 6 girls. They've trained very well this summer and are much stronger than last year. Cheers! Rich reply
#2	Runner September 1 at 12:19pm i feel that queens will have a splash. Last year no one knew who they were and now they have something to prove. Croutch is going to be dirty this year. reply
#1	Matt Heasty September 1 at 10:12am Go Grand Valley!!! under dog this year watch out..... reply