Grizzlies' run at No. 1 ended

ASC still highly touted in USTFCCCA Regional, National rankings

NEW ORLEANS- The Adams State College women's cross country team's run of 37 straight polls atop the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's NCAA Division II Central Regional Rankings has come to an end this week as the Grizzlies slid one spot to second in the regional rankings and two rungs to No. 3 on the national ranking ladder.

The movement comes after the Grizzlies' second place finish behind new Central Region No. 1 Western State, now ranked second nationally, at Saturday's Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships.

The Grizzlies, who had five All-RMAC performances, have still been ranked No. 1 in the country in 29 of the last 38 polls dating back to the start of 2007, including six of the nine sets of rankings released this year.  They have also won seven straight NCAA Division II National Championships.

Grand Valley State (Mich.), which finished second behind the Grizzlies at the last two NCAA Division II National Championships, is the new No. 1 team in the national rankings.  The Lakers won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title last week and have been ranked No. 1 in three sets of rankings this year.

Western State moved up four spots while Shippensburg (Pa.), Alaska-Anchorage and Chico State (Calif.) each slid down a spot behind the Grizzlies.  Western Washington and Ferris State (Mich.) moved up a spot each and now stand at No. 7 and 8, respectively while Pittsburg State (Kan.) are up two spots to ninth after winning the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association title.

Augustana (S.D.) made the biggest jump in the poll moving up an incredible eight spots to No. 10 after winning the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference crown.  The Vikings are also up two spots to third in the Central Regional rankings while Mary (N.D.) stayed in the No. 4 spot regionally while moving down one spot to 11th nationally.  Minnesota-Duluth dropped two spots to fifth in the regional rankings and six spots to 13th in the national rankings while Regis, coached by ASC Athletic Hall of Famer John "Skiball" Esquibel moved into the national rankings for the first time in school history at No. 22.  The Rangers also remained sixth in the regional rankings.

Mesa State is up two spots to No. 7 in the regional rankings while Colorado Mines and Metro State each slipped a spot to eighth and ninth, respectively.  Meanwhile, Nebraska-Kearney moved into the regional rankings in the 10th spot.

The Grizzly men, who won a sixth straight RMAC crown over national No. 2 and 3 Western State and Colorado Mines, remained in top spot in both the regional and national rankings.