Don’t forget about Abilene Christian

Abilene Christian men’s team didn’t win, but showed they won’t go quietly in the South Central Region. Second at Baylor’s Bear Twilight, but expect them to rise from No. 10 in the pre-season regional poll. They have a solid top three, including Amos Sang (my fave for Charlotte), Cleophas Tanui and Romain Rybicki, but finding solid fourth and fifth runners will be the challenge for new cross country head coach Roosevelt LoftonChris Woods.
LoftonWoods was a former 400m and 800m and All-America for Mississippi State; he was most recently an assistant cross coach at D1 Georgia State, which placed 14th (men) in the South Regional last fall.
Elsewhere: Penn State turned the tables and defeated Lock Haven’s men’s and women’s squads in this year’s version of that annual event.

Abilene Christian coach moves to D1

After two years, Abilene Christian distance coach Sam Burroughs (pictured at right) is spurning a relatively strong D2 program for North Texas.

Burroughs was tasked with rebuilding an ACU program hit with NCAA sanctions, following an imbroglio over interntaional athletes. Abilene is well known for its top-notch Kenyans; Amos Sang won both long races at outdoors in Charlotte.

Sang's success was the high point for Burroughs, and I'm not sure what the immediate future holds for the proud ACU franchise.

North Texas figures to be a coaching challenge, though. The men's team had only two finishers at the D1 South Central regional meet, as the others were apparently out due to injuries. During outdoors, no male runner broke 15 minutes in the 5,000, and the team's top woman just ducked under 18.

Elsewhere: There's two other hot rumors out there, one regarding a very fast 1,500 transfer and another about a D2 coach going D1. Nothing definitive yet; we'll see.

Image from acu.sidearmsports.com.

The lull before Mt. SAC

Aside from a few excellent individual performances, it appears most are waiting to run fast. Which makes sense, at Mt. SAC starts what are the two best weekends in American track (with Drake and Penn relays to follow).

In my estimation, last weekend's best male performance was Amos Sang's 29:15. The Abilene Christian junior got a small altitude adjustment for running his time in (always?) breezy Lubbock. He and the winner, Wayland Baptist's Kennedy Kithuka, beat the field by two minutes. That's a mental test. Sang is entered at Mt. SAC in the 5,000 and 10,000.

Best women's performance to Queens' Tanya Zeferjahn's second-best-in-D2 1,500, where she ran completely by herself to win by 14 seconds in 4:28.

Other performances of note:

• Anthony Luna (Metro State), who won last year's outdoor 800m in San Angelo but sat out this indoors in Albuquerque, enters the list at No. 8. He's set to run the 800 at Mt. SAC.
• Adams State now owns four of the top nine spots in the 1,500, thanks to some decent marks at the Sun Angel Classic in Tempe, Ariz.
• Alexis Skarda (Mesa State) also recorded a quick 4:28 at Sun Angel. Mesa State is definitely an overshadowed program in Colorado. She'll run the same event at Mt. SAC.
• Dani Dell'Orco (Truman State) won the 10,000 at the Jim Duncan Invite, which happens to be at Drake. Dell'Orco is now No. 5 (and an auto qualifier) in that event.

Regional best: South Central is a doozy

One thing is almost a certainty: The South Central Region will have at least four berths to nationals next year. (Each region gets two plus one more for each team in the top 8.)

But this year, there are only three. And it's the most-interesting regional meet this year.

I detailed the strong points of the contenders, so now I'll pick the qualifiers: Abilene Christian, Southwest Baptist and Pittsburg State.

Abilene Christian, in spite of its variable lineups and a summer of uncertainty, are just too talented to overlook. Plus they're running at home. Plus, I like Amos Sang for the individual win, mostly on the strength of his resounding pre-regionals win a few weeks ago. Although I don't think they're national title contenders, I'd be a fool to rule them out before their top-flight team runs at regionals.

Southwest Baptist won the D2 race at the Griak. Impressive. Michael Pierce will shine.

And Pittsburg State has put together an impressive season.

Missing, of course, are the two Missouri schools: Missouri Southern and Central Missouri. Each are worthy and I won't be surprised at all if they advance to Evansville.

Abilene Christian's ranking

The USTFCCCA rankings are out, and the coaches continue to be bearish on Abilene Christian. The erstwhile national title contender is ranked only fourth in the South Central Region and No. 18 nationally (as of last week).

It's tough for me to understand that. Of course, the coaches have better info than I.

Here's what I know about Abilene's roster:

• Their Kenyan contingent is tough, led by Danial Maina, including Amos Sang and Cleophas Tanui. Maina and Tanui have missed one of the two consequential meets that ACU ran (pre-nationals and their home meet), but we'll assume they're ready to go Nov. 7.
• International recruits Craig Peters (Wales) and Romain Rybicki (France) have yet to race. But they're on the roster.
• Americanos Colby Delbene and Spencer Lynn have run well and not-so-well, respectively. Lynn missed ACU's recent home meet.
• Sophomore Charles White (30th in Slippery Rock) now runs for Purdue. He was 11th at the Sam Bell Invite recently.

Central Missouri -- No. 1 in the South Central and No. 12 nationally -- averaged 25:35 for its top five at the Cowboy Jamboree. (For comparison's sake, Adams State and Western State were in the mid-24s; Missouri Sourthern was about 25:40.) But I can't imagine ACU (with its foursome of Maina, Sang, Tanui and Delbene) and even a very weak fifth weak (if our Welshman and Frenchman don't compete) being much slower. Time to pay closer attention to Central Mizzou.

I am very intrigued to see how head coach Sam Burroughs manages his troops in the coming weeks. While maybe not a national title contender, I suspect they'll win the South Central.

Week 6: Sangs' run sweet; Teams rest this weekend

Except for Western State's traditional Mountain Run (think "up a mountain"), none of the top 10 D2 schools are in action this week. All are readying for conference championships next weekend, thus beginning the championship phase of competition.

Reviewing last week again, Abilene Christian's Amos Sang ran a blistering four-mile effort at home. Add him to the pool of potential national champions. (Right now I'd say that includes David Kirwa (Harding), Sang, three Adams State runners (Mwei, Medigovich and Braun), Michael Crouch (Queens) and Micah Chelimo (Alaska-Anchorage).

Massachusetts-Lowell impressively won the New England championships. They also upended top-10 D2 squad and regional rival Stonehill. Those teams will also tangle at the Northeast 10 conference champs again next weekend. Coach Gary Gardner's squad of all Massachusetts runners appears to be on an upward trajectory at the right time. Anyone know if Reuben Sanca still eligible?

Week 4 'Meet o' Week': Evansville

Updated Friday: Ok, I think I've got my weeks straight. The Mountaineer Open is this week, not last week.

But Abilene Christian's low-key presence at Missouri Southern threw me for a loop. We'll know more about that seemingly mysterious squad after this weekend's Pre-Nationals meet in Evansville, Ind. If the course is what I recall, it's flat, followed by killer hills, followed by flat. And great for spectators.

Assuming the Genuine Abilene Christian shows up (again, they're on the start list and their sports information department released this), these are the other teams and individuals in the mix:

• Daniel Kirwa (Harding) brings his high-octane self, along with the No. 24 Bison
• No. 9 Southern Indiana will compete for the second time this season. Their rathe large squad will run for the second time on their home course.
• No. 12 Stone Hill -- the top-ranked squad from the East Region -- will race on a course I suspect they'll return to in November.
• Clayton State (No. 3 Souteast Region) will look to surprised some ranked opponents.

The main story here, I'm guessing, is who, if anybody, from Abilene can challenge Kirwa. That's most likely Amos Sang or Cleophas Tanui. If I had money to bet, I'd put it on Kirwa. He'll also gain some nice experience that will come in handy Nov. 21.

Elsewhere:

• The sagebrush could be dusted with snow in Gunnison, Colo., where No. 1 Adams State will tangle with No. 2 Western State. These two race each other so often (as spelled out in a Running Times article), that not every meet can rise to the "Meet o' Week."
• No. 3 Chico State travels to No. 3 (D1) Stanford. This will be a good indication of where Elam, Rodgers & Co. are at, as the field includes a couple of other ranked D1 schools.
• No. 6 Queens and Michael Crouch won't be challenged at the Conference Carolinas meet. (Note: NOT! It's next month, dude.)
• No. 10 Edinboro host a small home meet.

No. 4 Grand Valley State, No. 7 Colorado Mines, No. 8 Western Washington are idle.

Contour: Due to the sheer number of meets, I'm tracking the whereabouts of our top 10, as determined by the USTFCCCA. If there's another meet that should be a "cracker" (British for kick-butt), please inform me.

Week 3: Where's Abilene Christian?

Well, it's on their schedule and they were on the start list. But Abliene Christian didn't materialize at Saturday's Missouri Southern Stampede.

Arkansas handled all D2 comers easily, although Harding's Daniel Kirwa made an emphatic statement, recording a 23:11 (!!) over 8k to top everyone. Wow!

Harding, however, didn't fare well as a team. Pittsburg State edged Southwest regional rivals Southwest Baptist, Missouri Southern and Tarleton State.

But what happened to Abliene Christian? I certainly hope it's "only" something like a bunch of sick runners. Hopefully the faithful ACU backers will again post a comment.

Update: ACU had one runner in the race and a women's squad. (What's up?)

Elsewhere in d2cross-land:

• Adams State perfect scores the field at Colorado State.
• Apparently, no one kept team scores at Michigan State, where No. 5 Grand Valley State was running. Sounds like the Lakers did quite well. And, hey, you don't want to upset the hosts on homecoming weekend.
• Queens' Michael Crouch won Appalachian State's Mountaineer Open, leading the Royals to a runner-up finish behind Ohio State.
• Western Washington topped conference rival Alaska-Anchorage in the Sundodger Invite in Seattle. Washington won that meet, but Anchorage's Micah Chelimo had another strong showing in second.
• Colorado Mines won Nebraska's Woody Greeno meet, and that's with usual top runner Ben Zywicki coming home as their No. 2 runner. Aaron Swift took the top honors for the Orediggers, finishing second out of 341 runners. Nice work, Mines!
• Led by senior James Krasja, Minnesota State-Mankato swept the St. Olaf home meet, besting some quality D3 squads (like St. John's (Minn.)) and conference and regional foes.
• Edinboro was eighth at the Iona Meet of Champions. Notice who was third, just behind Kent State (!) and Wisconsin? Malone, an NAIA squad which was rejected by the NCAA fathers this summer.

Contour: I'm stiff and sore after a brutally hot Mount Helena Classic. I had to walk twice and took a tumble on the way down, but, hey, I would've been second in the women's race!

Week 2 preview: Don't expect much

Let's see, Adams State, Western State, Colorado Mines and nearly all of the RMAC are off; Edinboro, Harding, Queens and Grand Valley State are also off.

Three top-flight teams are running, but potential storylines are few.

The one to pay attention to may be Abilene Christian meet against in-town school McMurray, if only to see who runs. Word is, however, that ACU won't run this weekend (see comment). If so, their next scheduled meet is Pre-Nationals at the end of September.

Chico State opens its season at California-Irvine. Lots of teams entered, but unless I'm reading this one wrong, Chico should win.

And Lock Haven -- a squad with a performance I overlooked last week -- hosts a home meet. LHU defeated Penn State last weekend, which is a solid opener for the 19th-ranked squad.

Am I missing something this weekend?

Meet of the Week: The Vigil

It's hard to ignore a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup, so for the first week of the 2009 NCAA Division II cross country season, the Joe I. Vigil Invite is my "meet of the week."

Having run it four times myself (although 'twasn't called that way back when), it doesn't always turn into a knock-down, drag-out race. Adams State or Western State may hold runners out, top runners have yet to emerge and oftentimes everybody is just a bit rusty.

But we'll be able to tell something.

Adams State has amazing depth: national champ and 3:39 and 13:35 performer Aaron Braun; steeple champ Reuben Mwei (13:53 best for 5,000m); Brian Medigovich (3:42 and 13:40); Florian Theophile (13:59); Luke Cragg (14:05); and Ryan McNiff (14:19). I have no idea who is running best these days, but I wouldn't be surprised at the emergency of outdoor conference 10k champ Edwin Cruz. (All times are performances from last year.)

Western might not appear as deep on paper with Iain Donnan (13:53), Tyler Pennel (13:54) and Sean Brown (30:16), but Loren Ahonen and Tyler Rasmussen add depth, as do recent additions Glenn Watts (9:00 steeple) and David Flynn. I wonder, too, if redshirt frosh Cordell Baker is ready to make some noise.

I can almost smell the dust and cottonwoods of Alamosa.

Other meets to watch:

Queens (N.C.) -- led by the outdoor 1,500 champ Micheal Crouch -- races at Appalachian State, where they may see D1 competition. Florida State and Clemson were there last year. I have a hunch that Coach Scott Simmons is constructing a squad that will surprise people in Evansville.

No. 15 Alaska Anchorage hosts No. 4 Abilene Christian in the shadow of the Chugach Mountains. It's the Seawolves sole home meet, so they should be ready. Last year, they hosted (and beat) Atlantic Region power Edinboro. It'll kind of be a intra-country rivalry, as Anchorage's tough Kenyans (Cheseto, Kangogo and Rottich) take on Abliene's tough-er Kenyans (Maina, Sang and Tanui). Strangely, the school Web site lists the race as a 5k.

Colorado Mines (No. 3 in Central Region) and Metro State (No. 6) tangle at the aptly named Rust Buster Invite hosted by Colorado-Colorado Springs. Sub-30 minute performer Ben Zywicki leads Mines, while Metro has four 3:50-or-faster metric milers. This should give a good indication of a team ready step up in the Central Region, should Adams and/or Western falter.

Late addition: Harding opens at the Memphis Twilight. A first chance to look at my fave for the individual title, Daniel Kirwa, a double winner in San Angelo. Interesting fact: Start time is 9:20 p.m., in obvious deference to the heat.

Abilene Christian sanctions stick

The Abilene Christian football team must give up some past wins, after their appeal of NCAA sanctions failed.

What does this have to do with the distance program? As part of an investigation last year, ACU has given up almost two track and field scholarship and has or will reduce the number of foreign athletes on their squad.

According to this story, track and field coaches improperly accepted cash and gifts to host holiday functions and to provide travel for international athletes, and some junior college athletes (and would-be recruits) were given housing perks and free shoes.

Conincidentally (or not), former head coach Don Hood left the program for a high school job.

While giving up track scholarships was OK, giving up football wins mostly stuck in the school's craw. That prompted the school's appeal.

While I wasn't completely aware of the infractions until now, I think it unlikely the sanctions will adversely affect ACU's 'cross squad, judging by their roster. And their coach remains. But we'll find out soon.

The real Abilene Christian emerges

OK, time for a new poll.

Abilene Christian pulled in two Europeans and at least one American to bolster their status as perennial contenders. The squad lost three of their top five finishers from Slippery Rock -- albeit missing one of their studs -- which lulled me into a false sense of their vulnerability.

But according to this Lone Star Conference press release, they've added Roman Rybicki of France (click here if you want to "friend" him), Craig Peters of Great Britain, plus Texan Spencer Lynn. Its unclear if New Yorker Colby Delbene will also be part of the squad; Delbene was a recruit of the recently departed head track coach.

• Peters, who is technically Welsh, is a 14:29 5k performer.
• Rybicki appears to be at least a 3:51 performer, who was 26th at the French short course champs this spring. (Note: My French sux, but I have run the Aix-les-Bains cross country course.)
• Lynn ran a 4:25 mile

These two internationals would appear to put the cross country contingent at the school's self-imposed limit of five foreign athletes, which includes Kenyans Maina, Sang and Tanui. (Not sure how the five-person limit works out for track.) Of course, the idea of limiting where a student-athlete comes from appears a bit ludicrous to me.

So I'll take back my comments about ACU appearing soft this year. Their recent lineup additions make me even more curious to see the outcome of their Alaskan adventure.

This just in! Abilene Christian favored in Lone Star Conference

To absolutely nobody's surprise, the Abilene Christian Wildcats are picked to stomp everybody in the Lone Star Conference this fall. This year's rout will be held at the campus of West Texas A&M in Canyon, Tex., on Oct. 24.

The Wildcatz have merely won the last 18. It's up to Tarleton State or Texas A&M-Commerce to stop this juggernaut.

Looking at ACU's lineup, do they have the mustard to challenge for their third national title in four years? I'm lukewarm on them now.

Pre-season notes: Abilene to Alaska; Adams State needs a meet; Western State won't leave CO in '09

In my quick review of regional D2 cross powers, I have to say the most-interesting early-season meet will be the Sept. 5 race at Alaska-Anchorage.

Abliene Christian will bring its high-powered (and mostly Kenyan) lineup northwards, creating a matchup against Alaska-Anchorage's up-and-coming lineup.

ACU returns only two of their top five from last year's fourth-place squad in Slippery Rock; Anchorage returns three of its top five. While I think Anchorage won't quite compete for a national title this fall in Evansville (they were 11th last year). But they're led by seventh-place finisher Marko Cheseto (and 5k and 10k All-American performer outdoors) and perhaps have a surprise up their racing flats. Mark it on your calendar.

____

While I have discussed a supposed controversy over a tantilyzing Adams State-Oregon race, the fact remains that ASC needs a meet or two to fill out their schedule. According to ascgrizzlies.com, they don't race for five weeks after Sept. 19, a situation I'm sure they want to fix -- and perhaps already have.

_____

Meanwhile, ASC's rival Western State won't leave the state of Colorado during its 2009 regular season campaign. I'll be curious to see how that works out, but the Mountaineers are nearly always ready when it counts.

5,000 fave? Donnan of Western State

As I look back on my picks, I realize I have picked an Adams State runner to win every distance event. Until now. Aaron Braun is the best runner in the meet, hands down. But I like Western State's Iain Donnan over 5,000 meters. The junior Mountaineer is focussing exclusively (like teammate Tyler Pennel) on the distance, while Braun will have only 2 1/2 hours' rest. Of course, if anyone can do it, it would be Braun. It's too bad Micheal Crouch (Queens, N.C.) didn't choose this race, which would've been his best chance to win a national title.

1. Iain Donnan (Western State)
   
2. Amos Sang (Abilene Christian)
   
3. Aaron Braun (Adams State)
   

All-Americans: Marko Cheseto (Alaska-Anchorage), Luke Cragg (Adams State), Pennel, Florian Theophile (Adams State)

Remember, the first final is the men's 10,000 meters tomorrow night. At that time, I'll ignore my prognostications and pretend I knew the winner all along! 

Steeplechase: Chebon-Mwei will win again

Daniel Maina (Abilene Christian) is last year's champ. Reuben Chebon-Mwei (Adams State) outpaced him at this year's Penn Relays. I figure the men's steeplechase title should come down to these two -- and Chebon-Mwei gets the nod, mostly based on the Penn performance (both will likely run the 5,000 final 3 1/2 hours later). But anything can happen, and that's where Alaska-Anchorage's David Kiplagat comes in.

1. Reuben Chebon-Mwei (Adams State)

2. Daniel Maina (Abilene Christian)

3. David Kiplagat (Alaska-Anchorage)

All-Americans: Loren Ahonen (Western State); Nate Preston (Wayne State, Neb.); Matt Schneider (Wayne State, Neb.)

Adams State's Medigovich will win the 10,000

OK, so I'm starting with the 10,000, which is the first distance final of the D2 national championships in San Angelo, Tex.

In many ways, this race has the most wide-open field. No one has run a stratospheric time (although Chris Clark of California (Pa.) has a sterling best time), and most of the top contenders are doubling in the 5,000. But, hey, if I'm winning the 10k with eight laps to go, who cares about my second event.

I think Medigovich will take it because he's got the best finishing speed of the bunch. I think.

So, without further ado, the top three:

1. Brian Medigovich (Adams State)
   
2. Chris Clark (California, Pa.)
   
3. Daniel Kirwa (Harding)
   

All-Americans: Marko Cheseto (Alaska-Anchorage); Luke Cragg (Adams State); Amos Sang (Abilene Christian); Jeff Weiss (Slippery Rock); Ben Zywicki (Colorado Mines).

My top storylines from San Angelo

Here's what I'm looking forward to at D2 nationals in San Angelo, Tex., starting Thursday:

• Aaron Braun (Adams State) and his attempt to pull of a 1,500/5,000 double
• Michael Crouch (Queens, N.C.) in the 1,500, when I assumed he would be running the 5,000. This is the indoor 5,000 champ,, you know
  
• Another chapter of the Chebon-Mwei vs. Maina battle over barriers. Maina is the defending outdoor steeplechase champ; Chebon-Mwei got the better of him at Penn Relays.
  
• A wide-open 10,000.
  
• Heat and humidty. Or not: The forecast is for low 80s and chance of thunderstorms.
  

Next up: Who will win the 1,500

Chebon-Mwei top D2 finisher at Penn; Abilene sweeps 10k

A windy day in Philadelphia put an end to any hopes of a fast pace in the Penn Relays steeplechase.

Arkansas' Scott Macpherson won in a solid, but not spectacular 8:44. Chebon-Mwei dipped under 8:50 at third, besting Abilene Christian's Daniel Maina by about 2 seconds. The pair certainly appear fit (Chebon-Mwei ran sub-14 one week ago), and it's too bad the conditions conspired against them. With conference meets coming up, finals and then all the "last chance" meets before nationals, I'm not sure what opportunities they'll have (this year) to rip another. Maybe in San Angelo?

Here's what I saw in Thursday night's action at Drake and Penn relays:

• Daniel Kirwa (Harding) ran a 29:42 in warm, breezy conditions in Des Moines. Teammate Artek Kern DNF'd in the same event.
  
• Chris Clark (California (Pa.)) nearly won the 5,000 in Philly, finishing with a 13:59. Yet another fine performance for Coach Caulfield's charges. And he joins what is becoming quite a nationals field.
  
• Abilene Christian swept the 10,000 at Franklin Field. Amos Sang (29:34) won, with teammate Cleophas Tanui coming across the line 8 seconds later. Jeff Weiss of Slippery Rock missed the "magical" 30-minute barrier by 14 seconds.
  
• Queens (N.C.) standout Michael Crouch was a notable no-show at Penn. Any ideas why?

Relays begin in earnest at both sites. Unless I read the start lists wrong (and judging by some of the no shows, a lot can and has changed), D2 doesn't have much of a presence in either venue.

Race of the week: Penn Relays steeplechase

As alluded to below, most D2 distance squads appear to be looking for individual efforts at the country's two pre-eminent track and field relays. (This could change with late entries, maybe?)

At Drake (find the start list here), Harding has James Cheriuyot and D. Dirawa signed up for the 10,000, while Philip Biwott is entered in the 5,000. (Harding didn't get much out of Mt. SAC, as Julius Kosegei was a 5,000m DNF and Artek Kern was a DNS.) 

In Philly, indoor 5,000m champ Micheal Crouch of Queens (N.C.) is entered in the both long races. He can't do both, though, as those start just hours apart. Also watch for Edinboro's Ben Hahn in the 5k.

With the focus on fast relay squads, Drake and Penn don't typically produce fast long-distance races. But the race of the weekend -- from a D2 distance perspective, natch -- is the Penn Relays steeplechase.

Scheduled to go off at 7:30 p.m. EDT Thursday, the event should be a small college showdown between Daniel Maina of Abilene Christian ('08 D2 champ and last year's Penn winner in 8:40), Adams State's Reuben Chbon-Mwei ('08 D2 runner-up) and D3 stud Peter Kosgei of Hamilton (here's his own Web page).

On paper, Maina looks like the guy to beat...

4.23 update: Kern (Harding) will run the 10k at Drake