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Aug. 29, 2007
Adams State is favored to win its fifth straight NCAA Division II women's cross country championship, according to the preseason rankings released today by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The Grizzles won their fourth consecutive NCAA Division II championship last fall in Pensacola, Fla., scoring 94 points to outdistance rival Western State by seven points. Adams State returns four All-Americans from last year's championship team, including Brittany Somers. Somers placed eighth at the 2006 NCAA cross country meet and won an NCAA title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase last spring on the track. Adams State's other returning All-Americans are Heather Wood, Tanya Gaurmer and Lavenna Mullenbach. Rounding out the top 10 in the women's poll behind Adams State are Harding, Western State, Grand Valley State, Seattle Pacific, Augustana, Cal State Los Angeles, Edinboro, Chico State and Wisconsin Parkside. The second 10 consists of Colorado Springs, Abilene Christian, Kutztown, UC San Diego, Slippery Rock, Pittsburg State, North Dakota, Alabama Huntsville, Findley and Tampa. Completing the top 25 are Southern Indiana, Bloomsburg, Stonehill, Missouri Southern and Central Missouri. Second-ranked Harding is expected to improve on its fifth-place finish at last year's NCAA Division II Women's Cross Country Championships. Harding's top returning performer is Janee Jones. Jones finished ninth at the 2006 nationals. Esther Komen won the NCAA individual title last fall for Western State. Komen transferred to Harding and will be eligible to compete for her new school in January 2008. Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference rivals Adams State and Western State have won every NCAA Division II women's cross country title since 1992. Western State snapped Adams State's eight-year string in 2000 and added successive championships in 2001 and 2002. Adams State began its current string of championships in 2003. Abilene Christian is ranked first in the USTFCCCA Division II men's preseason poll. For complete rankings, see www.ustfccca.org. The 2007 NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships will be held Nov. 17 in Joplin, Mo.
USTFCCCA Division II Women's Cross Country Rankings 1. Adams State
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