Regional poll No. 7: South Central continues to confound

The South Central region is shaping up to be the tightest race of the Nov. 7 weekend. A look at the regional poll over the last two weeks is a good indication.

Last week, Central Missouri was tops. This week, after a nice win at MIAAs, Missouri Southern leads. I've still got my money on Abilene Christian (Daniel Maina will likely run faster), but that'll be a fun meet. Unless you're a coach, chewing on your program as you watch the miles click off.

• MoSo's roster of nearly all Missourians (and a coupla Finns) has been led by different runners at different meets. They don't appear to be front-runners, but will herd all their scorers across the line en masse. Coach Tom Rutledge is an ex-football coach who cut his teeth at Adams State in the 1980s.
• Abliene is deceptively good, which I've written about (probably too much).
• Tim Testa leads a deceptively strong Pittsburg State squad. Most of their squad missed the much-ballyhooed Cowboy Jamboree (Swine Flu?), but they nearly knocked off Missouri Southern at MIAAs. And they went to MoSo's gigantic home meet (the Stampede) and were runners-up to Arkansas. Coach Russ Jewett has been a steady hand for over two decades.
• Southwest Baptist has won one big meet (the Griak in Minnesota) and has been a step behind South Central rivals in two other biggies: the Stampede and the MIAAs. Michael Pierce's front-running should help when Abilene is added to the mix.
• Central Missouri is consistent (led by frosh Laban Sialo of Kenya; remember that name), but also consistently spread out. If they "pack it up," look out.
• Tarleton State is the nearest to knocking Abilene off the top of the Lone Star conference, but it didn't happen this year.

Remember, only three qualify. Any guesses?

Elsewhere: Little change, other than Metro State was rightly moved into No. 4 in the Central, making them legitimate contenders for a trip to Evansville. It's up to Augustana (S.D.) and Mankato State to make sure Nebraska-Kearney and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference don't sweep all 5 nationals berths.