No Mwei! RMAC dominates field

A couple of quick thoughts about today's national championships from Evansville, Ind.:

• It was easy picking Adams State and Western State to go 1-2, but my picks from that point suffered a bit. Colorado Mines -- a distant third at the Central Region -- really put it together. Is the conference now a three-team race? And region-mates Augustana (S.D.) were an impressive 10th.
• Adams State's 23 points is solid. And remember, this isn't the lineup that won the regional. The 4-5-6 runners came through. Adams "B" squad would've earned a big piece of hardware.
• Reuben Chebon-Mwei's success continues. The Adams State steeplechase champ made up for last year's absence with a win over my pick, Daniel Kirwa (Harding). Reuben has promised to break the ASC school record in the steeple held by some old fart.
• While I was fixated on the apparent strength of the South Central Region, the West was (nearly) best in Evansville. Western Washington turned in a best-ever performance in fourth; Chico State might have been a little disappointed in eighth. But that region will qualify four next season.
• The home team -- Southern Indiana -- had a fine showing. As did teams I underplayed: Harding and Queens (N.C.). With a certain 1,500 national champ healthy, Queens could be in for the kill next year. Mass.-Lowell must've been disappointed, too.
• And I doubted Adams State's women. I conveniently ignored the fact that they've now won 15 of the last 18 team titles. But they were considered "underdogs" this time. That's a fun way to win.

More (later) thoughts:

• Adams State's No. 5 guys was ahead of 20 team's first runner, including team runner-up Western State. Only Harding (Kirwa), Ogwaro (Queens) and Koyiaki (Columbus State) got in the way of a 15-point effort.
• Grand Valley State had a fine fifth-place showing, but I only see six finishers and don't see Nathan Knisely's name.

Post D1 thought:

• Oklahoma State's German Fernandez likely had a low finish for him (77th) but it was enough to propel the Cowboys to the D1 title. Adams State beat Oklahoma State on their own course, but the 'boys were missing some runners. And the two teams that did beat Adams (Northern Arizona and William & Mary) were an impressive fourth and fifth in Terre Haute. Suffice it to say, Reuben Chebon-Mwei and the gang would've been in the mix, especially looking at those high point totals.