d2cross indoor men's champ: No surprise

Hold the drumroll. It's not news to anyone that Adams State hogged the distance points in Albuquerque. (Not all points were concentrated in the four events, as they got eight from the high jump and long jump.)

In fact, because the points were so concentrated with one team, it left precious few for other teams and doesn't make a good measure of other team's strengths.

According to our d2cross indoor men's championship protocol, the runners-up would be Mankato State. The school's second-ever "half-mile" title went to Denise Mokaya; the school also grabbed a coupla points in the distance medley relay.

The top few:

Adams State 81

Mankato State 12

Missouri Southern 10

Queens (N.C.) 8

Saginaw Valley State

and Colorado Mines 7

--photo credit: ascgrizzlies.com

ABQ final: 2 big events win title for Adams State

The important storylines from the NCAA II indoor meet from Albuquerque:

65

That's how many points Adams State garnered, dominating the men's mile and the 5,000. It's one thing to have fast qualifiers, and another to actually pull it off. It's the school's first track title since 1992, and they beat St. Augustine's quality jumpers and sprinters -- and four national title efforts -- to do it. It was fun to watch.

Favorites who came through

Aaron Braun (Adams State) was a monster, winning the mile, anchoring the winning distance medley relay and finishing second in the 5,000.

Jessica Pixler (Seattle Pacific) had a similarly big meet, winning the mile and anchoring a DMR win.

Neely Spence (Shippensburg) settled the question (for now) of D2's best long-distance track runner.

Anja Puc (Nebraska-Omaha) got her 800 meter title.

Brian Medigovich (Adams State) finished his career in style, storming home to a 5,000 win.

Notable performers

Denise Mokaya (Mankato State) pulled off a nice win in the men's 800.

Amos Sang (Abilene Christian) stuck his neck out in the 5,000, finishing third.

Missouri Southern's men were a strong second to Adams State in the DMR.

Upcoming post: What can indoors tell us about who might win in Charlotte? Or even in Louisville?

ABQ Day 1: Seattle Pacific, Adams State big guns take DMR titles

A few observations from Day 1 of indoor nationals:

• Jessica Pixler (Seattle Pacific) proved to be the difference in the distance medley relay. The senior started behind but finished ahead of defending champ Shippensburg and Neely Spence. Pixler will run the mile Saturday; Spence runs the 5,000.
• Aaron Braun showed he's in for a very busy weekend, anchoring Adams State to their first title of what could be many in the DMR. Not far behind was a resurgent Missouri Southern and Brennan Benkert, a pick I certainly missed. My fave -- Metro State -- was third, with defending 800-meter indoor and outdoor champ Anthony Luna opting to run the 400-meter leg.
• Favorites made it through in the mile, including all five Adams State men's entries. Abilene Christian's Amos Sang, notably, did not make the final.
• The men's 800 meter final is a rare occasion where Adams State and St. Augustine's go head-to-head. St. Aug's has six finals Saturday with nine athletes plus a mile relay team. They could theoretically score 90 points (I'm not exactly sure who's through in the 200 yet). Adams has 12 athletes in only three finals and could score 79 points. On Friday, Adams needed to win the DMR and St. Aug's won't be represented in the 60. But the edge appears to be St. Augustine's.

A note about ABQ coverage

Two championship events in three months. That's what indoor nationals represents. And small fields means only the elite toe the line.

Here's my plan for indoors coverage: I won't do live coverage, but same-day analysis and coverage. For Friday, that means commentary about the men's and women's 800 and mile heats, plus those much-anticipated distance medley relay finals. For all the previews of the distance events, just find "albuquerque" in the tag list in the right-hand column. Or click here.

This site should give you the results when you need it. And, assuming your machine and connection are fast enough, CBS sports will live stream the action here.

As always, your comments, analysis and smack talk are welcome.

ABQ indoor men's 5000: Medigovich a good bet to beat Adams teammates

As you know, I'm an Adams State alum. But I've never seen anything quite like the men's 5,000 field: half of those guys are Coach Damon Martin's athletes. And they've won the fastest five times.

Forgive me, but I think I'm crazy if I don't pick Adams' Aaron Braun, Brian Medigovich or Reuben Mwei for the crown. We all know tactics could slow the final and make it anybody's race, but I'll take those three for gold, silver and bronze.

But who will win between the three? All are running the mile. All have good closing speed. I'm going to go with Medigovich, the guy who would be any other school's No. 1 runner, but is surrounded by some serious talent. A win in ABQ would be (I believe) his first national title in his last race for Adams State. And that would be sweet.

Who are the best bets to knock the Adams juggernaut loose? I'll stick with altitude guys, namely Ben Zywicki (Colorado Mines) or Iain Donnan (Western State). This is gonna be one fascinating race.

ABQ indoor men's mile: Braun best of Adams State pack

It would be easy to say someone from Adams State will win the men's mile. Runners from that school occupy six of the top nine spots on the D2 performance list. But I'll pick someone: Aaron Braun.

Now I've picked Mr. Braun for at least three titles since this blog was started, and, conincidentally, he hasn't won those races. Hopefully I'm not a curse.

But he has had an incredible winter (as has Brian Medigovich), running stellar mile, 3,000 and 5,000 times. This will be his final meet for Adams State. I bet he wants to cap his career with a win.

I will, however, take the easy road with my silver and bronze picks. It'll be Ryan McNiff, Keegan Calmes, Reuben Mwei, Brian Medigovich or Aaron Gauthier. What an embarassment of riches.

The best bet to break up the ASC party? Mack McLain (Colorado Mines). He knows the ASC posse and he's an altitude runner.

ABQ indoor men's 800: Adams' Graham will take advantage of Luna's absence

For a reason I'm not privy to, Anthony Luna (Metro State) won't defend his title in this race. That gives Drew Graham (Adams State) a chance to win a title at a distance he was runner up indoors and outdoors last year.

But Graham isn't the fastest man in the field. Saginaw Valley State's Tony Filipek dipped under 1:51 at that very, very deep GLIAC meet. Teammate and fellow senior Charlie Richards was third last year.

Owing to the altitude (trust me, it hurts over 800), I'll take Graham just ahead of Filipek and Richards.

ABQ men's DMR: Metro State eyes title

From my perspective (which, as you know, is limited to distance events only), the most interesting item on the men's heat sheets is Colorado Mines' focus on the distance medley relay.

Adams State will run a (relatively) young squad, which is capable of winning. But Metro will devote the services of national outdoor champ Anthony Luna to the relay. I'll buy that. After Adams, look for Colorado Mines in third.

NAIA indoors: Women better watch out for Simon Fraser

A glimpse at the NAIA national indoor meet results from Johnson City, Tenn., give a glimpse at the future of D2 track. And it's about to get more competitive, especially for women.

Simon Fraser was the most notable (from a track & field perspective) to gain entry into NCAA II. Although not eligible for a national title in 2012, my guess is they'll get a women's title within the first four years.

The Simon Fraser women swept the indoor 4x800 relay and the distance medley relay, en route third place -- and nearly a win. At least a pair of those relay runners might be running in two years' time.

On the men's side, Simon Fraser put three in the 3,000 meter final.

Adams State dominates men's mile list; Metro State rises

Six of the top 10 are Adams Staters, thanks to a quick (altitude-adjusted) mile at, you guessed it, the University of New Mexico.

Aaron Braun was officially given a 4:01 mile, edging teammate Ryan McNiff. Reuben Mwei and Brian Medigovich recorded 4:04s. If they do dominate the mile at nationals, it'll be interesting to see how the points stack up against sprinter-heavy St. Augustine's. Braun, McNiff, Mwei and Medigovich are likely candidates for the 5,000, I suspect. It's too bad one of those guys can't toss the 35-pound weight about 65 feet, too.

Metro State (Colo.) athletes had a fine weekend, too. Rick Bogotay was third in the UNM mile; Shawn Lindbloom leads the D2 nation in the 800m. These two figure to be part of Metro's national championship-vying distance medley relay. And they might collect titles of their own, if they can get past their fellow Coloradoans.

Meet Adams State's next generation

Remember these names (if you don't know them already): Anthony Gauthier, Keegan Calmes, Drew Graham.

Gauthier, an Adams State junior, and Calmes, an ASC freshman, nabbed auto qualifiers in the mile at the University of Adams State New Mexico indoor meet. Gauthier (of France) also recorded an 8:28 over 3,000 meters.

Graham, indoors 800 runner-up last year for Adams, is hardly an unknown, and sits No. 3 on that list this year.

I suspect we'll see these three at the starting line in Louisville this fall.

But it's not like Adams' "old-timers" have disappeared.

Didja see that 3000 from the University of Washington? The one where Aaron Bruan nearly stole the race from Galen Rupp and ex-D2er Scott Bauhs? 7:51. Damn fast. And teammate Brain Medigovich was only four ticks back.

That performance gives Braun the national lead for all collegians, albeit the distance isn't a D2 event. Now that's a topic for another post.

Not so fast CO: Mankato records fast DMR

Anchored by Denise Mokaya, Mankato State ran a quick 9:52 on their home track to seize the D2 DMR lead.

Although I don't have splits, Mokaya must've ripped a fast one; he's had a 4:11 mile this winter already.

I suspect 'kato's time will get the attention of the Coloradoans.

Colorado teams set DMR standard

It must've been some race at Colorado Mines this weekend. It's a great track, although an odd distance (perfect engineering, right?)

In the men's DMR, Metro State put two (!) teams ahead of Colorado Mines and Western State, both of which appeared to run strong squads. Adjusted for altitude, all four teams were under 10:06. In Houston last year, Mines won (at 9:56), Western was fourth and Metro State was fifth. Might be a new champ this March.

Elsewhere, Abilene Christian's Patrick Amos Sang ran a 4:08 mile at Texas Tech, while snowy roads made it impossible for Adams State to compete in Albuquerque. (The bulk of their season revolves around New Mexico meets.)

2009 men's indoors: Clearly, Adams State

With nationals 2 1/2 hours down el valle in Albuquerque, Adams State has a shot at winning an indoor title.

Multiple-time national champions Aaron Braun and Reuben Chebon-Mwei lead a team that also returns hoss Brian Medigovich and 800m indoor runner-up Drew Graham. Most of their schedule involves trips to Albuquerque.

St. Augustine's, however, returns a raft of young sprinters. (They don't have a stable of distance runners.)

For our purposes, Adams State is the clear favorite to win the d2cross indoor crown. Colorado Mines, Queens and Western State are best bets for runners-up.

In 2009, Adams ran away with the most points in the four distance events (800m, mile, 5000m, DMR): Adams State, 50; Colorado Mines, 18; Abilene Christian, 16; Harding, Metro State, 14; SW Baptist, 11; Queens, 10; Western State, 8; W. Oregon, 4; Saginaw Valley, Lock Haven, 3.

Next post: Meets to watch.

How to judge the d2cross Indoor Team Champ

It's officially indoor track season, which is the second season for most d2 distance runners. (Remember when Oregon wouldn't field an indoors team? My roommate in Eugene, Melody Fairchild, was one of their first indoor champs, I believe. They haven't looked back!)

So far in d2-land, Evansville "bronze medalist" Glarius Rop (American Int'l) blazed a 14:08 in early December, which is the best performance of the young (and quick) season.

With an eye on the March 12-13 championships in Albuquerque, d2cross will keep an eye on four events: 800 meters, 1 mile, 5,000 meters and distance medley relay. Points awarded in these events will form the basis of the "d2cross indoor team champ."

I was tempted to halve points for the 800m, judging by the few half-milers that make it to cross nationals. (In this day and age, though, a good kick is paramount to any distance. Just ask Reuben Chebon-Mwei or Daniel Kirwa.) But that would call into question the distance medley relay, which also features quarter-milers. Giving partial points sounds too complicated por moi, anyways, so I'll keep to the tradition of considering half-milers as distance runners.

Focussing on distance runners isn't meant to dismiss jumpers, sprinters and throwers; it's more of a recognition of my time limits. I will include women's events this winter, too.

Indoors nationals begin

The 2009 mens indoor nats in Houston appear to be a race between three types of teams: distance-heavy (Adams St.), sprints- and field event-heavy (St. Augustine's), and all-around strength (Abilene Christian).
It's interesting how the Adams State sports information staff spells out the match-up by identifying "scoring opportunities," which is the number of events your athlete is in. St. Augustine's and ACU have one more scoring opportunity than Adams St.
I remember the old days in the NAIA, which was loaded with distance events: 800, 1000, one mile, 2 mile, 3 mile, DMR, sprint medley....Our 1991 title included only points from the high jump. But without those, we would've been second.

Festival

I see the NCAA is touting its "festival" concept again, which includes D2 indoor nats. Do they feel like wrestling, swimming and indoor track and field aren't compelling enough to stand by themselves?

I especially like this comment from the chairman of some committee: "I hear from colleagues and administrators who also tell me that the festival has created a state of mind in which student-athletes set the event as a team goal."

Hmmm. I just remember wanting to compete.

Perhaps the Olympic-like atmosphere will inspire. Best of luck to all.