With the conference championships done, most teams took the week off (ECAC's aside) and so the focus is now onto the eight regional meets and getting into one of the 32 starting line blocks (per gender) in Hanover for the 22nd. Since most teams just send their JV runners to ECAC I have decided to not give the race much attention other than stating the winners (Williams Men and Women). Now onto the regional previews (new national rankings came out this week, so the ranked teams will be reflected in the previews.

ATLANTIC

MEN

Leading the way is #1 ranked SUNY Cortland who should get the win at St. Lawrence on Saturday, however they will be challenged by defedning champions and fast rising #7 NYU. Just recently jumped in the polls by NYU is #10 Geneseo who also should not be overlooked. Looking to grab the fourth and fifth spots will be the hosts #19 St. Lawrence along with #25 TCNJ. With 5 teams in the top 25, the Atlantic should get 5 teams to Hanover, unless one of the previously mentioned goes down, as after the 5th spot in the Atlantic the talent (team wise) dips a bit. Ithaca and Plattsburgh will be looking to play spoiler, but do not expect any of the non ranked teams to qualify for nationals. On the Inidividual side the edge goes to Kosgei of Hamilton, however this very talented region could see any number of runners win the national title. 

Prediction: Qualifying Teams - 5, Team Title - Cortland, Individual Title - Kosgei (Hamilton)

WOMEN

SUNY Geneseo ranked 10th national way should expect to bring home the regional title, followed closely by 13th ranked Cortland, 15th ranked St. Lawrence (running at home), 19th ranked TCNJ and 22nd ranked Ithaca. Like the Men, the region is talented up top but past the top 5 teams there is not a whole lot of depth. 5 in the top 22 basically guarentees these five teams a flight to Hanover, however if any of the above get beat, look for the region's qualifying numbers to be reduced. 

Prediction: Qualifying Teams - 5, Team Title - Geneseo, Individual Title - Wendy Palvus (St. Lawrence)

CENTRAL

MEN

A region that looked like it would be lucky to get three teams in for a while should get in four now. St. Olaf ranked 19th comes off an upset victory at their conference meet. They will be battle closely with 23rd ranked Nebraska Wesleyan. Also looking like they will qualify are 28th ranked Grinnell and 32nd ranked Hamline. St. Thomas who is currently unranked is another team that could qualify if they finish in the top 4. If St Thomas does qualify I still believe this to be a 4 team region unless something strange happens elsewhere.

Prediction: Qualifying Teams - 4, Team Title - St. Olaf

WOMEN

This may be the strongest region in the country for the women depth wise, and making things even more interesting is that of the 7 teams in the top 36 only one is within the top 10. #3 Wartburg looks to be the clear favorite for the team title, with a battle between 6 other teams for the region's final 4 spots. Regardless of which teams place in the top 5, so long as they are of these seven teams the region will get 5 teams to nationals. St. Thomas ranked 12th comes off an upset victory at their conference meet and should battle #13 Bethel for the runner-up spot. Looking for the final two spots will be #17 Luther, #21 Nebraska Wesleyan, #24 Carleton and St. Olaf (just off the poll).

Prediction: Qualifying Teams - 5, Team Title - Wartburg

GREAT LAKES

MEN

Calvin may have slipped from their national dominance a bit, however ranked 4th they are all but a shoe in for the regional title. Behind them should be 14th ranked Ohio Northern, 27th ranked Case Western and 35th ranked Denison. The Great Lakes could get 5 teams to Hanover, but more than likely will only get 4 teams. The only way five teams will qualify, is if they are the five teams listed above and even this may be a stretch. 

Prediction: Qualifying Teams - 4, Team Title - Calvin, Individual Title - Christiansen (Calvin)

WOMEN

Calvin ranked first in the country looks like a shoe in to take the women's title first, however look out for 8th ranked Case Western Reserve the UAA champs. Behind these two should be 25th ranked DePauw and 35th ranked Kenyon. This region could get 4 teams, however will probably only get in three, and they will need to be 3 of the 4 teams listed above. If Kenyon finishes above DePauw, the GL could be a 4 team region. 

Prediction: Qualifying Teams - 4, Team Title - Calvin

MIDEAST

MEN

#11 Dickinson pulled off a big upset last weekend handing Haverford its first CC loss ever...can they pull off another upset? Possibly, eitherway, it will be a tight battle between them and #9 Carnegie Mellon. #16 Haverford will be looking for redemption and the third qualifying spot, followed by #21 Allegheny and #30 Johns Hopkins. Looking to defend his individual title will be last year's Mideast region runner of the year Brian Harvey of Carnegie Mellon.

Prediction: Qualifying Teams - 5, Team Title - Dickinson, Individual Title - Harvey (Carnegie Mellon)

WOMEN

#11 Johns Hopkins will lead the way in the team and individual race. Behind them should be #26 Dickinson, with #31 Haverford and #34 Swarthmore (who is rumored to be finally running their full team) fighting for the third and potentially final spot in this year's national meet. Chances are the 4th place team in this region will be the last team out.

Prediction: Qualifying Teams - 4, Team Title - Johns Hopkins, Individual Title - Paulsen (Johns Hopkins)

MIDWEST

MEN

So packed in the front, this could be anyone's region. The race up front will be between 4 of the nations top 6 teams. #2 North Central, #3 Steven's Point, #5 Oshkosh and #6 Lacrosse. It should not matter who the 5th team in this region is as it is a lock to get 5 in. The fifth and final team should be #17 Augustana, however #26 Wheaton, Eau Claire and Platetville will also be gunning for this spot. At least one nationally ranked team will be left home out of this very deep region. 

Prediction: Qualfying Teams - 5, Team Title - North Central, Individual Title - Kaul (Oshkosh)

WOMEN

#5 Eau-Claire won the WIAC title last weekend, so they are the favorite for the regional title, however they will be challenged again by #6 Oshkosh and #7 Lacrosse. #9 Wash U will also be in the hunt after proving themselves last weekend after finishing second at the UAA meet. #32 Wheaton will be hoping that a ranked team finishes outside of their regions top 5 as this looks to be the only way the MW will get 5 teams on the women's side.

Prediction: Qualifying Teams - 4, Team Title - Eau-Claire

NEW ENGLAND

MEN

6 teams in the top 31 make this a 5 team region for certain, led by #8 Williams. Behind the Ephs will be #13 Keene State, #15 Trinity and #18 Amherst. #23 MIT and number #31 Brandeis will battle it out for the fifth and final spot. Individually Faller of Tufts should Challenge defending champion Kosgey of Williams, but should have little luck as the meet will be held on Kosgey's home course.

Prediction: Qualifying Teams - 5, Team Title - Williams, Individual Title - Kosgey (Williams)

Women

It is going to be a great day for the home town fans as Williams looks to walk away with another title, but it will not be easy as the same team that tied them at the NESCAC meet will be back again. The edge goes to #2 Williams in the larger field, but keep your eye out for #4 Middlebury. Following in their footsteps will be #16 MIT, #18 Colby and #23 Tufts. This would leave defending champs #29 Amherst out of Hanover, however I do not forsee this to happen. Based on previous meets I would expect Amherst to rebound after a tough NESCAC meet, leaving either Colby of Tufts home. The 1 pt from Tropiano will do loads for this effort.

Prediction: Qualifying Teams - 5, Team Title - Williams, Individual Title - Tropiano (Amherst)

SOUTH

MEN

This is a two team region, however both of these teams are nationally ranked. 12th ranked Emory comes off a third place finish at the UAA meet and should lead the region over #34 ranked Centre. If another team places second ahead of Centre that team will go and the region still should only get two teams to the meet. The only way the South gets more than the automatic two spots is if Emory does not finish in the top 2, but I would not count on this happening. 

Prediction: Qualifying Teams - 2, Team Title - Emory

WOMEN

Again only two teams will come out of this region, but again both of these teams are ranked in the top 35 nationally. #28 Washington & Lee will battle #33 Emory for the team title and I suspect that Emory will pull it together for the "upset". Unlike the men's side if either of these teams does not finish in the top 2 they are staying home, there is no scenerio that I can think of that would sent more than the automatic two teams from the south to Hanover.

Prediction: Qualifying Teams - 2, Team Title - Emory

WEST

MEN

#29 Whitworth defeated #33 Willamette at their conference meet last weekend, and these two teams should be the two from the west to make nationals. Fighting for a spot as well will be SCIAC multi-dual champs Occidental and SCIAC championship meet winners Claremont. It seems as though the west will be a 2 team region no matter what, but its possible a third could sneak in.

Prediction: Qualifying Teams - 2, Team Title - Whitworth

WOMEN

Willamette comes into the regional ranked 20th and led by Coffman looks like a sure bet to go to nationals. Looking to grab a spot as well will be #27 Claremont and #30 Whitworth in what looks to be a three team region. If Whitman places in the top 3 look for them to go as well, however the West should not be expected to get more than three teams to Hanover, therefore Whitman's qualifying would be at one of the previously mentioned teams' expense.

Prediction: Qualifying Teams - 3, Team Title - Willamette, Individual Title - Coffman (Willamette) 

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THESE ARE JUST MY OPINIONS FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN THIS SEASON, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COMMENT BELOW AND TELL EVERYONE YOUR PREDICTIONS.