NATIONAL POLL
NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Wednesday the NCAA Division II Preseason National Cross Country Rankings, and Augustana was ranked 10th on the men's side, while the women were selected 11th.
Defending NCAA champion Adams State (Colo.) was picked to finish first for both the men and women.
The Viking men were the only Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference team to crack the top 25, while the women joined conference neighbors Minnesota Duluth (No. 6) and U-Mary (No. 20) in the poll.
Both the women's and men's teams were the preseason favorites in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll released Wednesday. Both are also ranked No. 4 in the 2010 NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings, released Tuesday by the USTFCCCA.
The cross country season gets underway on Sept. 25 when the Vikings travel to Minneapolis for the Roy Griak Invitational, one of the largest meets in the country.
Rank, Institution, Region, Conference, Location, 2009 FINISH
Men's Cross Country National Team Rankings
1. Adams State, Central, RMAC, Alamosa, Colo., 1
2. Western State, Central, RMAC, Gunnison, Colo., 2
3. Colorado Mines, Central, RMAC, Golden, Colo., 3
4. Grand Valley State, Midwest, GLIAC, Allendale, Mich., 5
5. Chico State, West, CCAA, Chico, Calif. , 8
6. Western Washington, West, GNAC, Bellingham, Wash., 4
7. Queens (N.C.), SoutheastConf., Carolinas, Charlotte, N.C., 7
8. Southern Indiana, Midwest, GLVC, Evansville, Ind., 6
9. Harding, South, Gulf South, Searcy, Ark., 9
10. Augustana (S.D.), Central, NSIC, Sioux Falls, S.D., 10
11. Shippensburg, Atlantic, PSAC, Shippensburg, Pa., 13
12. Edinboro, Atlantic, PSAC, Edinboro, Pa., 12
13. UMass Lowell, East, Northeast-10 Lowell, Mass., 16
14. Metro State, Central, RMAC, Denver, Colo., 14
15. Lock Haven, Atlantic, PSAC, Lock Haven, Pa.
16. Alaska Anchorage, West, GNAC, Anchorage, Alaska, 17
17. American International, East, Northeast-10 Springfield, Mass.
18. Drury, Midwest, GLVC, Springfield, Mo.
19. Stonehill, East, Northeast-10 Easton, Mass., 21
20. Western Oregon, West, GNAC, Monmouth, Ore.
21. Columbus State, Southeast, Peach Belt Columbus, Ga., 19
22. Tarleton State, South Central, Lone Star, Stephenville, Texas
23. Pittsburg State, South Central, MIAA, Pittsburg, Kan., 18
24. Bellarmine, Midwest, GLVC, Louisville, Ky.
25. Fort Hays, StateSouth, Central, MIAA, Hays, Kan.
Women's Cross Country National Team Rankings
1. Adams State, Central, RMAC, Alamosa, Colo., 1
2. Grand Valley State, Midwest, GLIAC, Allendale, Mich., 2
3. Alaska Anchorage, West, GNAC, Anchorage, Alaska, 5
4. Shippensburg, Atlantic, PSAC, Shippensburg, Pa., 15
5. Chico State, West, CCAA, Chico, Calif., 6
6. Minnesota Duluth, Central, NSIC, Duluth, Minn., 7
7. Western Washington, West, GNAC, Bellingham, Wash., 8
8. Missouri Southern, South Central, MIAA, Joplin, Mo., 3
9. Western State, Central, RMAC, Gunnison, Colo., 9
10. Tampa, South, Sunshine, Tampa, Fla., 10
11. Augustana (S.D.) Central, NSIC, Sioux Falls, S.D., 13
12. Ferris State, Midwest, GLIAC, Big Rapids, Mich., 11
13. Southern Indiana, Midwest, GLVC, Evansville, Ind., 12
14. Seattle Pacific, West, GNAC, Seattle, Wash., 4
15. Truman State, South Central, MIAA, Kirksville, Mo.
16. Stonehill, East, Northeast-10 Easton, Mass., 16
17. Kutztown, Atlantic, PSAC, Kutztown, Pa., 14
18. Slippery Rock, Atlantic, PSAC, Slippery Rock, Pa.
19. Pittsburg State, South Central, MIAA, Pittsburg, Kan.
20. U-Mary, Central, NSIC, Bismarck, N.D., 18
21. Ashland, Midwest, GLIAC, Ashland, Ohio
22. Northwest Missouri, South Central, MIAA, Maryville, Mo.
23. Columbus State, Southeast, Peach Belt, Columbus, Ga., 24
24. Queens (N.C.), Southeast, Conf. Carolinas, Charlotte, N.C., 20
25. Southern Connecticut, East, Northeast-10 New Haven, Conn.
