Rivalries will be at their fiercest this coming Conference weekend. The weekly polls are due for some movement and this weekend is where the upsets might happen. I have given the results of last year’s races and done my best to research the top runners in each conference. If I have missed a runner or if you have an opinion on who will win this year leave a comment. After all, Flotrack is a community.

CCAA-The Chico State men’s and women’s both captured the conference team titles last year. On the men’s side, the Wildcats scored 17 points, followed by UC San Diego (72) and Cal Poly Pomona (84). Scott Bauhs won the men’s title but has since graduated. Look for Chico’s Jimmy Elam, Michael Wickman, and Cal Poly Pomona’s Jersain Torres to be in the hunt for the title.

Last year, Chico State women scored a low 30 points, their top six runners taking 4th through 9th place. Chico State was followed by Cal State LA (52) and UC San Diego (76). Cal State LA’s Vivien Wadeck is back to defend her title. Also look for UC San Diego’s Bre Schofield, and Chico State’s Alia Gray and Kara Lubreniecki to challenge for the title.

CACC- Last year, Felician College men’s team won with 34 points and was followed by University of the Sciences (55) and Philadelphia University (71). Last year’s champion Felician’s James Vander Welle will be back to defend his title. Look for Felician’s Rob Albano and Philadelphia’s Shawn D’Andrea to challenge for the title.

Last year’s Philadelphia University’s women took the team title with 47 points followed by Georgian Court (61) and Felician (90). Look for Philadephia’s Sarah Simonetti to make a run for in the individual title.

CIAA-Virginia State won the men's championship and tied Saint Augustine's for the women's title at the 2008 CIAA Cross Country Championships. In the men's race, Virginia State scored 42 points to top Bowie State, which placed second with 58, while Shaw finished third with 91 points. Saint Augustine’s Johnny Shupig will be looking to repeat.

In the women’s race last year, Saint Augustine's and Virginia State both scored 39 points, and thus the race was declared a tie. Bowie State’s Shamika Patton and Livingstone’s Winnie Chepchumba will be in the hunt for the individual title.

Conference Carolinas- Last year with Queen’s absent, St. Andrews’ men won the conference title with 43 points. Lees-McRae was a close second with 48 points, followed by Erskine with 78 points. But this year, Queen’s is set to host the conference meet so expect them to win the title.  The individual title is Queen’s Michael Crouch’s to lose.

Last year, Lees - McRae’s women claimed the women’s conference title with 48 points and were followed by Converse (78) and Anderson (94). Queen’s will be set to challenge for title and it should be a battle between them and Lees-McRae. Anderson’s Whitney Bishoff is back to defend her title. Look for Queen’s Jessica Neville to challenge for the individual title.

East Coast Conference- Last year, the Adelphi University Panthers claimed both the men's and women's cross country titles. The men’s team captured the team title with 30 total points. NYIT took second with 48 points and were followed by St. Thomas Aquinas (84). NYIT’s Amos Kipkosgei should be back to defend his title. Also look for his teammate, Daniel Rono and C.W. Post’s Vicent Giambanco to challenge for the title.

Last year, Adelphi women took home the team title with 20 points with their top five runners finishing in the top seven. The C.W. Post Pioneers came in second overall with 81 points and Dowling was third with 84 points. Look for NYIT’s Jeptui Cherutich and Adelphi’s Kristen Wojtuniak to make a run for the title.

GLIAC- Last year, Grand Valley State’s men and women claimed both team titles Saturday. The men’s team captured the title with 31 points. Wayne State was second (69) and Ashland was third (90). Grand Valley’s Tyler Emmorey is the favorite for the individual title.

Last year, Grand Valley’s women finished with a total of 25 points to win the team title. Wayne State (66) was second and Ferris State (121) was third. Look for Grand Valley’s Megan Maceratini and Ferris State’s Tina Muir to battle for the title.

GLVC- Last year, University of Southern Indiana claimed both the men’s and women’s cross country titles. In the men’s team title competition they scored 26 points and were followed by Northern Kentucky (63) and Drury University (66). Drury’s Jaime Villa Zapatero will be back to defend his title. Look for Northern Kentucky’s Drew Harris challenge for the title.

Last year, University of Southern Indiana’s women scored 39 points to take the team title and were followed by UW Parkside (64) and Northern Kentucky (80). Southern Indiana’s Mary Ballinger is the favorite for the individual title but also look for Lewis’s Kathryn Hague to challenge.

GNAC- In the men’s race last year, it was Alaska Anchorage that took home the men’s title. They were followed by Western Washington (53) and Western Oregon (78). Alaska Anchorage’s Mark Chesto is back to defend his title. Look for teammate, Micah Chelimo, Western Washington’s Jordan Welling to challenge for the title.

Last year, Seattle Pacific edged out University of Alaska Anchorage 48 to 52 to win its fourth consecutive women's team title. Western Washington was third (75). Seattle Pacific’s Jessica Pixler is the strong favorite being the 2008 cross country champion.  Her closer challenger will be Western Washingon’s Sarah Porter.

Gulf South Conference-Last year, Harding University’s men’s team turned in a perfect team score of 15 to claim their eighth Gulf South Conference Cross Country Championship in the past nine years. University of Alabama Huntsville (64) was second, followed by West Georgia (92). Harding’s Daniel Kirwa is a favorite to repeat.

Last year, Harding claimed the top three individual spots for a 22 total points. Alabama-Huntsville finished second in the fifteen team event with 65 points. Arkansas Tech was the only other school in the double-figures with 76 points. Look for Arkansas Tech’s Bailee Miller, Harding’s Katy Grant and West Flordia’s Baliee Hedstrom to challenge for the title.

Heartland Conference- Last year, The Cardinals from the University of the Incarnate Word ran to a dominating win, with six men finishing in the top ten and scoring 29 points. Dallas Baptist finished 2^nd with 61 points. Look for Incarnate Word’s Shayn Weidner and Newman’s Austin Hunt to challenge for the win.

Dallas Baptist’s women’s team took home the team title with 23 points, followed by Newman with 63 points. Look for Dallas Baptist’s Hannah Steffan to repeat.

Lone Star Conference- Last year, Abilene Christian prevailed in the men's 7,700-meter race for the 18th straight year, securing the team title with 17 points. Tarleton State University came out on top in a close race for second place with 77 points and Texas A&M-Commerce was third with 78 points. Look for Tarleton’s Jared McNeil, Gerzain Valenzulea and Abilene Christian’s Amos Sang to challenge for the title.

Last year, Midwestern State placed five runners in the top twenty to score 58 points. West Texas A&M narrowly held off East Central University for second place, 84 to 94. Look for Midwestern’s Sydnee Cole, Southwestern Oklahoma’s Chelsey Dillion and Texas A&M-Kingsville’s Erica Alvarado to challenge for the title.

MIAA-Last year, Southwest Baptist was first with 63 points. They were followed by Pittsburg State (84) and Missouri Southern (86). Look for Southwest Baptist’s Michael Pierce and Pittsburg State’s Mujahid to push the pace for the individual title.

The Missouri Southern Lions claimed a 30-point victory over runner-up Pittsburg State, 42 to 72. Southwest Baptist was third with 83 points. Missouri Southern’s Kimi Shank and Ashely Siler to be leading the pack.

Northeast-10 Conference-  Last year, the University of Massachusetts Lowell claimed both the men's and women's team championship titles. UMass Lowell men claimed their third straight Northeast-10 Team Championship with 31 points. Stonehill finished second with 52 and Southern Connecticut State University took third place with 64 points. Look for Le Moyne’s Jake McAndrews, American International’s Glarius Rop, Stonhill’s Pat Fullerton and UMass Lowell’s Angus MacDonald to challenge for the title.

Last year, UMass Lowell edged out Stonehill by a slight margin (46-51) to claim the team championship. Saint Rose took third place with 98 point. Look for American International’s Julie Collignon, Adelphi’s Danielle Matteo and Stonehill’s Kristen Veit to challenge for the title.

 
Northern Sun Conference- Last year, the Minnesota State men’s team placed five individuals in the top ten finishers to claim to the 2008 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championship with 22 points.  Augustana College was second with 74 points and Wayne State College was third with 108 points. Look for MSU’s James Krajsa to be in front along with Augustana’s Tom Karbo and Matt Braithwaite and NSU’s John Rawerts.

Augustana women's cross country team placed five runners in the top ten to win the conference title with 32 points.  They were followed by University of Minnesota-Duluth (56) and Minnesota State University (105). Look for UMD’s Morgan Place, MSUM’s Anna VanWechel, and Augustana’s Leah Hansen to be challenging for the individual title.

PSAC- Last year, Edinboro totaled 56 points to edge out runner-up Slippery Rock, which came in with 65 points. Lock Haven placed third among the 16 teams with 85 points. Look for Shippensburg’s Bryan Beegle, Edinboro’s Ben Hahn, Lock Haven’s Nick Hilton and Stone Hill’s Pat Fullerton to be in the front.

Last year, Shippensburg registered 70 points to narrowly defeat Slippery Rock, which totaled 73. Kutztown was third with 115 points. The individual women’s title will be Shippensburg’s Neely Spence’s to lose.
Pacific West-Last year, Hawaii Pacific came away with the men’s team title scoring 26 points followed by BYU-Hawaii with 49 points and UH-Hilo with 56 points. Look for BYU-Hawaii’s Spencer Deavila and Academy of the Art’s Amos Maru to challenge for the title.

 The Brigham Young University Hawaii's women's cross country team took the team title with 29 points. Taking second and third place respectively were Hawaii Pacific with 36 points and UH-Hilo with 59. Look for BYU Hawaii’s Lacey Krout and Hawaii Pacific’s Quinn Horochuk to challenge for the title.

Peach Belt-Last year, the Columbus State men’s and women’s cross country teams won the Peach Belt Conference Championship. Columbus State’s men scored 26 points. Look for Columbus State’s Meshack Koyiaki and UNC Pembroke’s Pardon Ndhlovu to battle for the title.

The Columbus State women won their fourth straight PBC title with 33 points. Augusta State finished second with 54, while North Georgia was third with 110. Look for Columbus State’s Brittney Skiles and Montevallo’s Haley Evans to challenge for the title.
RMAC- Last year, Adams State took both the men’s and women’s championship. The men scored 20 points by placing their top five runners in the top eight. Western State was second with 49 points followed by Colorado School of the Mines with 81 points. Adams State’s Aaron Braun will be back to defend his title. Don’t count his teammates Brian Medigovich and Reuben Mwei out.

The Adams State’s women's team won the 6K race with 29 points, followed by Western State (47) and Mesa State (108). Look for Adams State’s Kristen McGlynn and Mesa State’s Alexis Skarda to challenge for the title.

SAC-Last year, Mars Hills scored 31 points to beat runner-up Wingate University (50 points). Lenoir Rhyne was third with 84 points in the men’s competition. Look for a win by Tusculum’s Simon Holzaphel to take the title with possible challenges by Catawba’s Christian Crifasi and Mars Hill’s Kit Powell.

Lenoir Rhyne took the women’s team title. Wingate was second with 63 points, followed by Carson-Newman with 88 points. Look for Lenoir Rhyne’s Kate Griewisch to take the title.

SIAC- Last year, Benedict College men’s team took the conference title. Morehouse finished in second and Fort Valley State and Kentucky State tied for third place. Look for Morehouse’s Abraham Kiprotich and Tuskegee’s Jame Holly to challenge.

Clark Atlanta finished in second while Fort Valley State finished in third. Look for Clark-Atlanta’s Phyllis Shelman-Ford and Tuskegee’s Mallory Johnson to challenge.
Sunshine State- Last year; FSC took their 12th straight title with 29 points and were followed by Tampa (51) and Nova Southeastern (60). Look for Nova Southeastern’s Brendan Chwalek and Florida Southern’s Ben Martucci to challenge for the title.

Last year, Tampa’s women won the meet for the second consecutive year with 21 points. They were followed by Florida Southern (76) and Nova Southeastern (77). Look for Florida Tech’s Sara Trane and Tampa’s Jess Butler to challenge for the title.

WVIAC-Last year, West Virginia Wesleyan’s men scored 40 points and were followed by Wheeling Jesuit (78) and Concord (96). Look for WJU’s Ryan Beabout, WVWC’s Nate Edwards and SHU’s Domin Camasso to challenge for the title.

The West Virginia Wesleyan’s women scored 41 points over Alderson-Broaddus (48). Wheeling Jesuit was third (75). Look for Alderson-Broaddus’s Ashley Teets, WJU Sarah Campanelli and WL’s Kallen Weaver to challenge for the title.