Southeast region: Queens. Period.

I always have great designs to get these regional previews done early. And here we are, with about 26 hours until the first qualifiers cross the line. So it goes...
Mount Olive, King College. Not teams I would’ve guessed lining up for nationals in two weeks’ time. And yet the Mount Olive men and King College women are poised to do just that.
Certainly, the class of the Southeast are Queens of Charlotte, N.C., hosts of last year’s outdoor nationals. But add the above two newbies and you nearly have the field. The men get an additional spot, which will go to Columbus State, led by likely regional champ Meshack Koyiacki. Am I right to assume Kate Griewisch (Lenoir-Rhyne, pictured) will win the women’s race again?

South East: Queens, with or without Crouch

A Southeast Regional without Michael Crouch (Queens, N.C.) would be unfortunate. Little birdies have told me he's hurt, but I don't have definitive word.

With or without Crouch, Queens will punch its ticket to Evansville. Without Crouch, teammate Oscar Ogwaro is my favorite to win the region.

Thanks to the Royals' seventh-place finish last year, three teams will come out of the SE. Look for Columbus State to return to the national stage. I'll have to rely on the coaches' poll for the third team: Mars Hill.