East region: Lowell's Veiga makes a statement

What a run by Mass.-Lowell junior Jeff Veiga. Emerging as the team's top runner only at the conference meet, he powers away from the field and bests last year's national third-placer (Glarius Rop) to storm the East region meet. Mass.-Lowell easily won the meet, with Stonehill, as predicted second.
I admit that College of St. Rose was not on my radar. But they're off to nationals as region runners-up, as are convincing champs Stonehill. American International's Jeptui Cherutich won the women's event and should factor in the individual race in Louisville.
One question: Why is the East regional on Sunday? I hope it's tradition -- and not some bureaucratic reason.

East region: Mass.-Lowell or Stonehill? Both

The East region is one of four regions with the minimum of two national qualifying spots. And unless an outsider like Southern Connecticut has an amazing day, those two will be Mass.-Lowell and Stonehill. More specficially, Lowell (led by Angus MacDonald) will take the men’s race, and Stonehill will take the women’s.
The individual titles belong to American International athletes. While Jeptui Cherutich (pictured) might not be ready to beat Neely Spence (Shippensburg) in Louisville, Glarius Rop won’t surprise anyone this year.

East: Rop, Stonehill, Mass-Lowell

Three things are for sure at the East Regional: Glarius Rop (American International), Stonehill and Mass.-Lowell. In that order.

Rop could be an outside favorite in Evansville. But first things first, he's gotta qualify. And he will with ease.

It's a two-team race otherwise, and I'll be shocked if Stonehill or Mass.-Lowell bricks it. They only take two from the East, so Rop's AI squad and others will likely be on the outside looking in.

Stonehill and Mass.-Lowell have had great competition against each other this season. Stonehill won the latest battle (at the NE-10s), while Mass.-Lowell arguably had the bigger win at the New England collegiates race. It appears that Mass.-Lowell (led by Tim Guerin and Angus MacDonald) and deeper through seven, but it only takes five.

Stonehill has those five -- and they run in a pack. At the Mass.-Dartmouth race earlier this year, the scoring five were an amazing two seconds apart. At NE-10s, the 2-5 gap was about 20 seconds. That's team running...and that'll get you to nationals.