Wayne State hosting NCAA Central Region Cross Country Championships Saturday

Wayne State College will host some of the nation’s top cross country runners this weekend at the 2010 NCAA Division II Central Regional Championships on Saturday, November 20 at the Wayne Country Club.  It’s the second straight year and the fourth time in the last eight years that WSC has hosted the event.  The men’s race (10,000 meters) will begin at 11:00 a.m. Saturday with the women’s race (6,000 meters) scheduled to start at 12:15 p.m.
          
A total of 24 schools from two conferences (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) will compete at the meet.  The region is loaded with talented runners, producing the team champions at the NCAA Division II national championships in the women’s division for the last 18 years in a row while the men’s national champion has come from this region 10 of the last 12 seasons.
          
The men’s division features two-time defending national champion Adams State of Colorado, who is ranked #1 in the national rankings and coming off the RMAC championship two weeks ago.  Adams State is one of five teams ranked nationally in the region along with second-ranked Western State, #3 Colorado Mines, #13 Augustana and #16 Metro State.  Augustana captured a second straight Northern Sun Conference title in Wayne two weeks ago.  Ryan McNiff of Adams State and Tom Karbo of Augustana were individual champions at their respective conference meets.
          
Adams State is the seven-time reigning NCAA Division II national champions and ranked third in the national rankings entering Saturday’s Central Regional.  RMAC rival Western State topped Adams 31-42 in the Rocky Mountain Conference Championships two weeks ago and is ranked #2 nationally.  The Central Region features six nationally ranked teams.  Joining Western and Adams in the field are #10 Augustana, the three-time reigning NSIC team champion, #11 Mary, #13 Minnesota Duluth and #22 Regis.  Mesa State’s Alexis Skarda is the RMAC individual champion this year while Augustana freshman Runa Falch won the NSIC individual title in Wayne two weeks ago.  
          
The top five men’s teams and top four women’s teams will advance to the NCAA Division II National Championships in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, December 4.

USTFCCCA Central Region Men’s Rankings (Nov. 10)                          
1.  Adams State                                                                
2.  Western State                                                            
3.  Colorado Mines                                                            
4.  Augustana (SD)                                                          
5.  Metro State (Colo.)                                                      
6.  New Mexico Highlands                                                
7.  Nebraska-Kearney                                                        
8.  Minnesota Duluth                                                        
9.  Minnesota State                                                                      
10. UC-Colorado Springs                                                  

USTFCCCA Central Region Women’s Rankings (Nov.10)
1. WesternState
2. AdamsState
3. Augustana (SD)
4. Mary
5. MinnesotaDuluth
6. Regis (Colo.)
7. MesaState
8. ColoradoMines
9. Metro State (Colo.)
10. Nebraska-Kearney