There is one last barrier for teams to successfully hurdle in order to make it to Slippery Rock, PA for the DII National 2008 Cross Country meet held on November 22. This last hurdle is the Regional meet. DII regionals work differently then DI; there are no at-large bids, but rather a straight qualification system.  Each region sends at least two automatically qualifying teams and two individuals to the national meet. The top five individuals who are not part of a qualifying team will also automatically advance. The number of team qualifying spots per region, however, depends on whether or not any of the region’s teams finished in the top eight at the national meet the previous year. This year’s allotment of spaces per region is listed below:

Men’s

Region                         (Teams) (Individuals)

East                                    2            2

Midwest                             4            2

Atlantic                              2             2

Central                              6              2

South                                 2              2

South Central                    3              2

Southeast                         2               2

West                                3               2

 

 Women’s

Region                         (Teams) (Individuals)

East                                   2                  2

Midwest                            3                  2

Central                              5                  2

Atlantic                             2                  2

South                                2                  2

South Central                   3                  2

Southeast                         2                  2

West                                5                  2

 

Last year's results had little effect on my predictions because the DII regions have been realigned. This  realignment changed which teams run in which regional meet, thus the make up of each region is different than last year.  I will do my best to preview each region, but as usual I encourage you to participate by posting your own predictions. 

Atlantic (CIAA,PSAC,WVIAC)-On the men’s side, Edinboro, Virginia State, and West Virginia Wesleyan all come in as conference team champions and will be fighting for the top two spots. Also look for Bowie State and Slippery Rock challenge for the two spots. In the Individual race, look for California PA’s Chris Clark, Edinboro’s Ben Hahn, Slippery Rock’s duo Pat Regan and Jeff Weis, and Saint Augustine’s Johnny Shupig battle for the title, making for an exciting race.

On the women’s side, Shippensburg, Saint Augustine, Virginia State and West Virginia Wesleyan all come in as conference team champions and will be fighting for the two coveted spots. Look for Slippery Rock to challenge for a trip to nationals as well.  Shippensburg’s freshman phenom Neely Spence is expected to have a good performance, and is a favorite for the regional title.  Virginia State’s Jenna Arnold, Wesleyan's Brenna Hagerty, Slippery Rock’s Jennifer Harpp, and Mercyhurst’s Christie Turak will also be in the mix for a regional win.

Central(NSIC, RMAC)-With six qualifying spots for the men and five for the women, the talented teams in this region clearly proved themselves at last year’s National meet. On the men’s side, Adams State, Western State, Colorado School of Mines, Metro State, Minnesota State, Augustana State and Wayne State College will all be challenging for qualifying spots. Adam’s State Aaron Braun will be in the hunt for the regional win and will be challenged by teammate Brian Medigovich, as well as by New Mexico Highland’s Laurent Ngirakamaro and Minnesota State’s James Krajsa.

On the women’s side Adams State and Augustana come in as conference champions. These two teams, along with Western State, Mesta State, Minnesota State, Metro State and Minnesota Duluth, will challenge for the five qualifying spots.  Adam’s States Lavenna Mullenbach will be looking for a regional win. UC-Colorado Spring’s Shannon Payne, Adams State’s Heather Wood, and  Minnesota Duluth's Morgan Place will challenge Mullenback for the title.

East(ECC, Northeast-10, CACC)-The men’s squads from Felician, Adelphi, and UMass Lowell all come into the regional meet as team conference champions. These teams, along with Stonehill, will be fighting for the two qualifying spots. UMass Lowell’s Ruben Sanca will being looking to take the regional title and will be challenged by Stonehill’s Kevin Gill, Southern Connecticut’s Chris Croff, Felician’s James Vander Welle and the NYIT duo of  Amos Kipkosgei and Nicholas Koiyet.

On the women’s side, Adelphi, Philadelphia and UMass Lowell all took conference titles. Along with Stonehill and Georgian Court, these teams will be challenging for the two team qualifying spots. Bently senior Melissa Nash will be looking to take the regional title and will be challenged by UMass Lowell’s duo Christina DaLomba and Sarah Brassard, Adelphi’s Ify Anene and Wilmington’s Danielle Burchan.

Midwest(GLIAC,GLVC)- Grand Valley and University of Southern Indiana took both the men’s and women’s conference team title in their respective conferences.   On the men’s side also look for Wayne State, Northern Kentucky, and Ashland to challenge for one of the four qualifying spots. Grand Valley’s Chris Hammer and Tyler Emmorey, Hillsdale’s Timothy Jagielski, Drury’s Jaime Villa Zapatero and Northern Kentucky’s Drew Harris will all be in the hunt for the regional individual title.

Along with Grand Valley and University of Southern Indiana, UW Parkside, Northern Kentucky and Wayne State will all be in the chase for one of the three qualifying spots. Wayne State’s Rachelle Malette, UW Parkside’s Jessica Monson, and Southern Indiana’s Mary Ballinger are all contenders for the regional title.

South(GSC,SIAC,SSC)- On the men’s side, Florida Southern College,  Benedict College, Harding University all come in with conference titles. Harding scored a perfect 15 at their conferences, and will likely advance. Alabama Huntsville will also be in the hunt for one of the two qualifying spots. Harding’s Daniel Kirwa will be looking to take the regional title.

On the women’s side, Harding and Tampa will battle for the regional team title and will be challenged by Flordia Southern and Alabama-Huntsville. Tampa’s Jessica Forrester and Harding’s Esther Komen will challenge for the individual title.

South Central(Heartland, Lone Star, MIAA)- On the men’s side, University of Incarnate word, Abilene Christian,  and Southwest Baptist all come in as conference champions. These teams, along with Pittsburg State, Tarleton State University  and Texas A&M-Commerce, will compete for the three qualifying spots. Look for Abilene Christian’s trio of Daniel Maina, Cleophas Tanui and Julius Nyango to contend for the individual title, along with Pittsburg State’s MJ Hassaballa and St. Edward’s David Fuentes.

On the women’s side, Midwestern State, Missouri Southern, and Dallas Baptist were all conference champions. Along with West Texas A&M and Pittsburg State, these teams will battle for the three qualifying spots. Missouri Southern junior Kimi Shank and Abilene Christian’s Winrose Karunde are top contenders for the regional individual title.

Southeast(Conference Carolinas, Peach Belt, SAC)- On the men’s side, St. Andrews, Mars Hill and Columbus State all come as conference champions. Queens is the favorite for the regional title, with the remaining teams likely battling for the second spot. Look for Queen’s Michael Crouch to take the individual regional title. He will be challenged by Wingate’s Jayce Watson, St. Andrew’s Mitch Cooper, and Columbus State’s David Marely.

On the women’s side, Lenoir Rhyne, Columbus State, Lees – McRae all won conference titles. Along with Wingate, Queens, Augusta State, and Converse, these teams will be vying for the two qualifying spots. Look for Clayton State’s Allison Kreutzer, Augusta State’s Jenafer Forward, Carson Newman’s Aubrey Morris, Queen’s Jessica Neville, and Anderson University’s Whitney Bishoff to challenge for the regional title.

West(CCAA, GNWAC, PWC)- On the men’s side, Chico State, University of Alaska Anchorage and Hawaii Pacific were all conference champions. Look for a tight race between Chico and Alaska Anchorage for regional team title. UC San Diego and Western Washington are also top contenders for the three qualifying spots. Chico State’s Scott Bauhs is the favorite for the individual title, but don’t count out Alaska Anchorage’s Mark Cheesto and teammate Brendan Scanlon who will challenge Bauhs for the title.

On the women’s side, Chico State, Seattle Pacific and Brigham Young University Hawaii all come in as conference champions and will be vying for the five qualifying spots along wtih Cal State LA, UC San Diego, Alaska Anchorage, and Western Washington. 2007 national cross country champion, Seattle Pacific’s Jessica Pixler will look to take the regional individual title. She will be challenged by Cal State LA’s Vivien Wadeck, BYU-Hawaii's Amanda Whitford, and Cal Poly Pomona’s Tiffany Turner.