NCAA Division II Championship Preview

November 13, 2007

A total of 378 participants (188 men and 190 women) will compete in the championships. All regions automatically qualified two teams of seven student-athletes each. Additional berths were awarded to the regions with the first eight team finishers at the 2006 NCAA Division II Menâ€™s and Womenâ€™s Cross Country Championships. Missouri Southern State University will host the championships, November 17, at the Missouri Southern State Cross Country Course in Joplin, Missouri. The women's race will begin at 10:30 a.m. Central time followed by the menâ€™s race at 11:30 a.m. Central time.

So why pick Joplin, Missouri as the host for Nationals? There are a plethora of reasons. First of all motto for Joplin, Missouri is â€œProud of Our Past...Shaping Our Future'". This motto allows for growth but yet it still recognizes the past. Even more interesting was that Bonny and Clyde spent several weeks in Joplin and robbed several local businesses. The famous poet Langston Hughes was born in Joplin. Mickey Mantle played with the Joplin Miners minor league baseball team. Also, Joplin has been referenced in at least one episode of the Dick Van Dyke Show and the Beverly Hillbillies. The CMT reality show â€œTrick my Truckâ€ was also set in Joplin.

The question is who is going to bring new meaning to the phrase â€œrun like you stole somethingâ€?

The menâ€™s race: The biggest question is will Nicodemus Naimadu be the National champion yet again? He was absent from the regional race. New Mexico Highlandâ€™s Laurent Ngirakamoro had the fastest qualifying time with a time of 29:44. Earlier at their conference meet he was defeated by Adamâ€™s State Reuben Mwei and Aaron Braun. The Western State duo of Aaron Clark and Iain Donnan defeated Aaron Braun at their regional Meet. Abilene Christianâ€™s Serge Gasore ran a 30:28 at the Regional Meet and his only competition was teammate Julius Nyango who ran a 30:33.Queenâ€™s Daniel Kanyaruhuru ran the same time as Serge Gasore and his nearest competition was two minutes behind. St. Martinâ€™s John Riak , Central Washingtonâ€™s Sam Schothmer and Slippery Rockâ€™s Jeff Weis will also add to the mix.

Western State is currently at the top of the National rankings and behind them is Adams State whom they beat by merely a point at their regional meet. Adams State defeated them earlier at their conference meet. Abilene Christian is ranked third but they are defending champions which could play to their advantage. Grand Valley State and Chico State will also be in the hunt and either could prove to upset the top three.

The women's race: Seattle Pacificâ€™s Jessica Pixler turned in the fastest 6k time this season with a time of 19:52. Yet, the times on this course seemed to be unusually quick. Abilene Christianâ€™s Winrose Karunde ran a 20:39 at her regional meet and was closely followed by Emporia Stateâ€™s Jonel Rossback with a 20:40. Adamâ€™s State Tanya Gaurmer ran a 20:44 at her regional meet. Edinboroâ€™s Rachel Lanzel is the highest returning finisher and her experience might help her. Hardingâ€™s Janee Jones and Tampaâ€™s Laura Woznicki will add to the mix.

Adamâ€™s State is on top of the National rankings by scoring a low 28 points at their regional meet. It looks like they will easily take the team championship. Western State is ranked second and could possibly pull the upset but was easily defeated at the regional meet before by Adamâ€™s State. Grand Valley State, Seattle Pacific, and Augustana (S.D) will also play major roles in this meet.

NCAA Division II Menâ€™s and Womenâ€™s Cross Country Championships is shaping up to be very hard fought race with no outright favorite in the individual title on either the menâ€™s or womenâ€™s race. In the team competition it is very up in the air on the menâ€™s side, while the womenâ€™s side looks like it will easily go to Adamâ€™s State. With all this said, this weekend will prove to be an exciting one.

Post a Comment

#23	Cara Hawkins November 18, 2007 at 9:51pm I just got back and I caught some stuff, just give it time and it will be up. My flight got delayed by about 5 hours today. reply
#22	Racing November 18, 2007 at 9:50pm Why was there no race footage of the NCAA Division II Cross Country Meet? reply
#21	Txfan2 November 17, 2007 at 9:07pm Congrats Nic and ACU! reply
#20	Pix Fan November 17, 2007 at 12:35pm Hey Pee Wee, Sounds like you need to eat your words. 1st place for Pixler doesn't sound like a choke to me, especially after falling at 2mi. SPU girls rock, 2nd place coming in ranked 7th! And of course Adams State was going to win, just a crazy program over there! reply
#19	Txfan November 16, 2007 at 10:25am Good luck to Winrose from ACU. reply
#18	Ccfan November 15, 2007 at 10:46pm Nicodemus Naimadu and ACU men will take the National Title. reply
#17	Adamsman November 15, 2007 at 8:00pm you guys are complete idiots Adams state is going to win mens and womens and aaron braun who is the national champ in the 1500 is going to take the win. And western state blows so whoever is saying they are gonna win needs to go back and look how adams killed them 3 times this season reply
#16	Pee Wee November 15, 2007 at 5:18pm Jessica Pixler and SPU will choke! Ramsey Kavan will run away for the individual title. St. Martin's John Riak is going to surprise ALOT of folks. Nicodemus and Western State National Champs! Mark my words! reply
#15	2 November 14, 2007 at 6:06pm GVSU reply
#14	TxdIIrunner November 14, 2007 at 10:39am Nicodemus will be hard to beat. He is a competitor like I have never seen and knows what is on the line at this meet. I look for him to defend his national championship. Good luck to all reply
#13	Austyn Hughes November 14, 2007 at 7:09am GO MSSU (Missouri Southern State University)!!!!! reply
#12	Bagger November 13, 2007 at 9:42pm This piece is tragic. Please have someone edit for grammar and style. Useful info is lost among the many errors and poor writing. reply
#11	Texasfan November 13, 2007 at 8:16pm Abiline will win hands down... reply
#10	Marty Monahan November 13, 2007 at 8:10pm Lets Go LMC Girls and Kanyrahuru....gotta rep the CAC reply
#9	Cara Hawkins November 13, 2007 at 5:44pm Yeah, it was a bit of an awkard sentence. reply
#8	Mike_x November 13, 2007 at 5:27pm "The biggest question weighing on most people%u2019s mind or well runner%u2019s minds is there anyone who can take Nicodemus Naimadu%u2019s place rather he runs or not?" Good preview, but this and other places within the article are in serious need of a grammar check. reply
#7	M V November 13, 2007 at 2:22pm i love beverly hills hillbillies reply
#6	Joshua Neyhart November 13, 2007 at 10:19am watch out for Edinboro!!! great read reply
#5	Cara Hawkins November 13, 2007 at 9:44am You could be right, his team did qualify despite him not running regionals. He did not qualify as an individual. reply
#4	Sarah_x November 13, 2007 at 9:39am Cara kicks ass. reply
#3	DII Follower November 13, 2007 at 8:54am I believe that Nicodemus Naimadu will be running at nationals, so the correct question would be "Can anyone take Nicodemus Naimadu%u2019s place as national champion" reply
#2	Adam Ward November 13, 2007 at 8:17am Nice insight! Great facts about Joplin, MO. Who knew? I think the DII race, even though less publicized, should prove to be just as exciting as the DI or DIII races. reply