Atlantic region: Shippensburg, for sure

Expect the Atlantic region to be a repeat of the Penn State Athletic Conference race two weeks ago. And that means Shippensburg will take the top team podium spots. I suspect Neely Spence (Shippensburg) will be rounding into top fitness. The Edinboro women appear to be Louisville-bound.
The race to watch is on the men’s side: Lock Haven and Edinboro vying for the second (and last) spot to nationals. I’m leaning toward Lock Haven, but if Scott Anderson (Edinboro, pictured) wins again, look out.

For Shippensburg, should be an Atlantic breeze

If you’re a betting man, put your cash on Shippensburg to win both races in the Atlantic Regional.
The Shippensburg men made their case for the sickest pack time of 2010: 14 seconds at the Kutztown D2 invite last weekend. Led by sophomore Matt Gillette (second overall in a modest 25:37), the Raiders will need to keep close together to place against teams with front-runners in Louisville. (In perhaps a preview of the East Region, S. Connecticut was third and No. 12 Mass.-Lowell sixth. S. Connecticut is coached by ex-Adams Staters John Wallin and Nick Lara.)
Matching the men’s 20-point effort were the Shippensburg women, led by the again-very-fast Neely Spence. The women would’ve had a good pack time, too, if Neely and teammate Mary Dell hadn’t been so dern far ahead. As it was, their 3-7 runners came in within 21 seconds of each other.
The Raidettes are ranked No. 3 nationally. Expect them to move up if either of the “States” (Adams or Grand Valley) falter in Louisville.

Atlantic: Edinboro or Lock Haven?

It's hard to go against Edinboro -- they've got the tradition and have had the performances this year.

Led by Ben Hahn (17th in Slippery Rock last year), the Fightin' Scots (and Hahn) should recover from a muddy loss at the Pennsylvania State champs with a win at the Atlantic Regional at Mansfield (Pa.).

But it might be a mistake to pick Lock Haven to finish second. Led by Nick Hilton and Brandon Pomerantz (1-2 at PSAC), Lock Haven has had a nice season, counting wins over D1 Penn State and the aforementioned win at the PSAC, which they managed at Edinboro. The gap to Lock Haven's fifth man will determine whether they win...or even stay home.

Only two teams go to Evansville, but Shippensburg might step up. They finished ahead of Lock Haven at the enormous Paul Short invite in mid-October.