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 Men’s and Women’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 men’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 “Proud 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 “Trick my Truck” was also set in Joplin. The question is who is going to bring new meaning to the phrase “run like you stole something”? The men’s race: The biggest question is will Nicodemus Naimadu be the National champion yet again? He was absent from the regional race. New Mexico Highland’s Laurent Ngirakamoro had the fastest qualifying time with a time of 29:44. Earlier at their conference meet he was defeated by Adam’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 Christian’s Serge Gasore ran a 30:28 at the Regional Meet and his only competition was teammate Julius Nyango who ran a 30:33.Queen’s Daniel Kanyaruhuru ran the same time as Serge Gasore and his nearest competition was two minutes behind. St. Martin’s John Riak , Central Washington’s Sam Schothmer and Slippery Rock’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 Pacific’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 Christian’s Winrose Karunde ran a 20:39 at her regional meet and was closely followed by Emporia State’s Jonel Rossback with a 20:40. Adam’s State Tanya Gaurmer ran a 20:44 at her regional meet. Edinboro’s Rachel Lanzel is the highest returning finisher and her experience might help her. Harding’s Janee Jones and Tampa’s Laura Woznicki will add to the mix. Adam’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 Adam’s State. Grand Valley State, Seattle Pacific, and Augustana (S.D) will also play major roles in this meet. NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships is shaping up to be very hard fought race with no outright favorite in the individual title on either the men’s or women’s race. In the team competition it is very up in the air on the men’s side, while the women’s side looks like it will easily go to Adam’s State. With all this said, this weekend will prove to be an exciting one.