The competition for the 2009 DII Cross Country championships is heating up. This past weekend the Region qualifying meets was held. For many the 2009 Cross Country season came to an end but for a handful of hard working individuals and teams, however, there is one last opportunity for sweat and glory: The DII Cross Country National Championships, being held at Evansville, IN on November 21, 2009. Below is a recap of last weekend’s regional championship races.  As usual, I encourage readers to supplement the information below.

Atlantic -Edinboro’s Ben Hahn won the 10k men’s race with a course record time of 31:02. He was followed by Lock Haven’s Nick Hilton (31:19), Shippensburg’s Bryan Beegle (31:26), Indiana (PA)’s Hillary Mugan (31:30) and Lock Haven’s Brandon Pomerantz (31:35). All will advance to Nationals. Shippensburg took the team title with 39 points followed by Edinboro with 56 points to advance to Nationals. Lock Haven was third with 62 points.

Shippensburg’s Neely Spence won the repeat as the individual champion with a course record time of 20:15 over the 6k distance. Spence finished 26 seconds ahead of runner-up Priscilla Jennings of Millersville (20:41) with Shippensburg’s Mary Dell finishing third (20:45).Slippery Rock’s Jennifer Harpp was fourth (20:58) with Mercyhurst’s Christie Turak (20:58). All will advance to Nationals. Shippensburg took the team title with 86 points followed by Kutztown (100) and Bloomsburg (120). All three teams will advance.

Central- The Adam’s State trio of Brian Medigovich (30:57.2), Aaron Braun (30:57.3) and Reuben Mwei (30:57.3) took the top three spots over the 10k course. The top two individuals from non-qualifying teams that also advanced to the National championships were Niciase Kazingo of New Mexico Highlands finishing seventh overall with a time of 31:41 and Tanner Fruit of Nebraska-Kearney 32:28 and 16^th place overall. Adams State easily won the team title with 20 points placing their top seven in the top 13. They were followed by Western State of Colorado in second at 47 and Colorado School of Mines in third with 100.  Metro State of Colorado (142 points) and Augustana (S.D.) (143) rounded out the five teams that advance to Nationals.

Minnesota-Duluth’s Morgan Place took the individual title with the time of 21:39.0 over the 6k course. She was followed by Adams State’s Kristen McGlynn (21:58.5) and Alicia Nelson (22:02.4). The top two individuals from non-qualifying teams that also advanced to the national championships were Sydney Laws of Colorado Mines, fourth overall at 22:06, and Minnesota State’s Ali Paul, who was sixth at 22:20. Adams State won the team title with 36 points followed by Western State of Colorado in second at 88 and Augustana (SD) in third with 90 and the University of Mary (169 points), Metro State of Colorado (175) and Minnesota Duluth (179) round out the six teams that advance to nationals.

East-American International College’s Glarius Rop won the individual title with nearly a 45 second (30:15.9) win over his teammate Victor Kemboi (31:01.0). Both will advance individually. UMass Lowell took the team title with 43 points and placing their top five in the top fifteen. Stonehill was second with 67 points. Both teams will advance. Bentley was third with 130 points.

Stonehill’s Erin Carmone took home the individual title with a time of 22:16.5. She was followed by NYIT’s Jeptui Cerutich (22:27.3), Southern Connecticut State’s Laura Brustolon (22:31.4), NYIT’s Jackline Toek (22:50.2), and Philadelphia University’s Sarah Simonetti (22:52.5). They will all advance. Stonehill took the women’s title with 51 points followed by UMass Lowell with 76 points. Both will advance. Adelphi was third with 121 points.

Midwest-Grand Valley’s Tyler Emmorey took the individual win covering the 10k course in 32:21.4. He was followed by Drury’s Jaime Villa Zapatera (32:28.5) and Northern Kentucky’s Drew Harris (32:29.5). Zaptera and Harris will qualify individually. Grand Valley took the team win with 38 points followed by Saginaw Valley (88) and Southern Indiana (90) to advance.

Ferris State’s Christina Muir won with the time of 21:33.2 over the 6k course. Southern Indiana’s Mary Ballinger was second in 21:44.0 and Grand Valley’s Megan Maceratini was third in 21:52.5. The individual qualifiers were Lewis’s Kathryn Hague who was seventh in 22:28.1 and Hillsdale’s Ashley Quick who was ninth in 22:38.4. Grand Valley took the team title with a low 26 points, placing their top seven in the top 15. Southern Indiana was second with 76 points and Ferris State was third with 103. All three teams will advance.

South Central-Abilene Christian’s Amos Sang was over a minute faster than his next competitor winning the individual title in a time of 29:53.23 over the 10k course. Southwest Baptist’s Michael Pierce was second in 30:57.74 and Central Missouri’s Laban Sialo was third in 31:07.74. Sang and Sialo will advance individually. Missouri Southern took the team title with 56 points followed by Southwest Baptist with 81 points and Pittsburg State with 86 points. All three teams will advance. Surprisingly, highly ranked Abilene Christian finished a distant tenth over all.

Missouri Southern took the first three spots in the women’s race; Kimi Shank (20:59.05), Ashley Siler (21:18.80) and Ashley Bunch (21:32.61). Truman State’s Dani Dell’Orca and Anne Ratermann were the individual qualifiers. Missouri Southern scored a super low 18 points placing their top five in the top seven. Dallas Baptist was second with 84 points. Both will advance.

South- Harding’s Daniel Kirwa won the men’s race in a time of 31:10 over the 10k course. He was followed by teammate Phillip Biwott (31:46) and Flordia Southern’s Ben Martucci (32:12).Gabriel Ghioca and Benedict College’s Dickson Toroitch were the individual qualifiers.

Florida Tech’s Sara Trane took the individual title in a time of 21:37 and took one of the individual qualifying spots. She was followed by Tampa’s Jessica Butler (22:00) and Harding’s Katy Grant (22:05). Florida Southern’s Carolyn Kwambai was the other individual qualifier. Tampa took first place with 38 points followed by Harding with 47 points and Florida Tech was third with 143 points. Tampa and Harding will advance.

Southeast-The men’s race came down to a lean with Queen’s Oscar Ogwaro outleaning Columbus State’s Meshack Koyiaki both coming through in the time of 31:14. Queen’s Futsum Mebrahtu was third in 31:34.  UNC-Pembroke’s Pardon Ndhlovu and Clayton State’s Fidelis Mustiso advanced to Nationals. Queens took the team title with 28 points, placing their top five in the top ten. Columbus State was second with 70 points and Mars Hill was third with 96 points. All will advance.

In the women’s competition, Lenoir Rhyne’s Kate Griewish won with a time of 22:35. She was followed by Anderson’s Whitney Bishoff (22:42). Both will advance individually.  Columbus State took the team title with 68 points barely edging out Queens who had 69 points. Both teams will advance. Lees-McRae was third with 104 points.

West- After last year’s West region’s trouble this year went smoothly. Alaska Anchorage’s Marko Cheseto took the individual title with a time of 30:42.5 over Western Washington’s Jordan Welling (30:59.4). Western Oregon’s Chris Reed (eighth, 31:26.1) and Barak Watson (11^th, 31:39.8) of Northwest Nazarene will advance individually. Chico State took the team title with 42 points. Western Washington (74points) and Alaska Anchorage (96 points) will advance.

Two-time defending national champion Jessica Pixler of Seattle Pacific claimed the individual crown with a winning time of 20:08.9, outdistancing Western Washington’s Sarah Porter, who took second with a 20:42.3 clocking, while the Alaska Anchorage trio of Hallide Wilt (21:11.5), Ruth Keino (21:11.8) and Miriam Kipng’Eno (21:17.9) rounded out the top five. Cal State L.A.’s Vivien Wadeck (10th, 21:34) and Megan Rolland of Humboldt State (11th, 21:41.5) qualified individually.Alaska Anchorage captured the team title with 35 points, followed by Chico State (58 points), Seattle Pacific (89 points) and Western Washington (64 points). All will advance