Top five moments of the 2010 D2 cross country season

Late summer, Indianapolis, Ind.: The NCAA Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement unwittingly had a role in the outcome of the 2010 NCAA Division II championships. In July, the committee granted Luke Cragg (Adams State) an extra year of cross and outdoors for seasons missed in 2006 and 2008 due to injury. The Leeds, England, product would finish 11th in Louisville as third man for the Grizzlies. Less than one second later, Craig Huffer would finish as ASC’s fourth man. Huffer, a much-heralded international performer of Australia, also had his NCAA amateur status restored by the committee in late summer. Without the duo, Adams would’ve (theoretically) barely won in Louisville, 94-95 over Western State.
Sept. 18, Carlisle, Penn.: She won indoor and outdoor titles earlier this year, but Neeley Spence (Shippensburg) only finished 43rd last year in Evansville. She won easily on this day at the Dickson College Invite, which turned out to be the first step toward a resounding victory in Louisville. As she recounted to Running Times, her dad and coach yelled as she neared the finish line in Louisville “to enjoy this, remember last year and enjoy it....I was so happy to be able to do that, because last year showed you can’t take anything for granted.” And she’s got one more year.
Oct. 2, Louisville, Ky.: Grand Valley State women race at Tom E. Sawyer State Park for the first time in 2010. Two more trips would follow, culminating in a first-ever school national championship. Credit should go to coach Jerry Baltes for allowing his team to get acquainted with the mostly flat course. And when the snow fell at nats in December, the squad rushed to the front and controlled the outcome.
Oct. 15, Charlotte, N.Car.: For the second time, Michael Crouch (Queens) was surprised by a D2 runner, the previously overshadowed Meshack Koyiacki (Columbus State). And while the first loss came in Louisville, this one came on Crouch’s home course. Koyiacki would win a third head-to-head meeting at regionals, but Crouch wisely used the longer-than-normal run-up to nationals to retool his kick. In the slush at Louisville, the pair entered the finish straight together, but the Queens man powered away for a shrewd win.
Nov. 7, Easton, Mass.: I’m not sure when he quit a part-time job to focus more on running, but this is when the D2 world first had an inkling of the most-inspiring individual performer of 2010. In two weeks, he would would win the East Regional and stun a national title contender -- Glarius Rop (American International). In a month, he would dictate the men’s race in Louisville, eventually finishing third. But on Nov. 7, Jeff Veiga (Mass.-Lowell) got within 8 seconds of Rop, nearly running him down. Coach Gary Gardner called Veiga’s run that day “unbelieveable.” A stunned Gardner would repeat those words again and again. “He had ultimate confidence,” Gardner told the Lowell Eagle-Tribune after nationals. “Since last March, Jeff did a lot of work. He really dedicated himself to this season.” Does that motivate ya’?

(Photo credit: University of Massachusetts-Lowell)