DENVER, Colo.— The Adams State University women's cross country team captured another NCAA Division II South Central Regional Championship on Saturday at a snowy Washington Park. The Grizzlies, who placed all their scorers in the top 24 finished with 67 points for the title. They finished five points ahead of second place Colorado School of Mines and third place UCCS. The Grizzlies automatically earned a berth to next month's championships.
The men will have to wait to be named a qualifier after they posted a seventh place with 213 points. Colorado School of Mines (25 points), Colorado Christian (49 points) and Western Colorado (103 points) earned the three automatic bids.
To qualify for the NCAA Division II Championships, which will be held at the D2 Festival at Chambers Bay Golf Course in Seattle, Wash. on Friday, Dec. 2nd, teams must finish in the top three at their respective regional championships or be one of ten at-large bids. Top two from non-qualifying teams qualify automatically, as does any individual from non-qualify team who finishes in the top five overall. Eight more selections nationally are also made.
The women were led by
Brianna Robles, who finished in sixth place overall with a time of 21:38.22. less than ten seconds back was Precious Robinson, who finished in eighth place with a time of 21:47.85. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Runner of the Year,
Stephanie Cotter, finished in ninth place with a time of 21:49.59.
Emily Schoellkopf finished 20th by crossing the finish line with a time of 22:13.31, four spots ahead of
Nicole Lawrence, in 24th place with a time of 22:19.63.
Morgan Hykes had a 27th place finish in 22:22.78 and Maggie McCleskey (28th place; 22:24.03) were the displacers for Adams State.
The Grizzly men opened the day with the 10,000-meter race on the fast-flat course. The Grizzlies were led by Cameron Allan, who finished in 25th place with a time of 31:58.20. Awet Beraki finished in 33rd place with a time of 32:14.20.
Yonas Haile (42nd place; 32:34.60),
Davonte Jett-Reynolds (53rd place; 32:50.20) and James Dunne (60th place; 33:05.40) rounded out the scorers while Aron Orar (89th place; 34:14.20) and Miguel Coac (111th place; 34:59.40) were the displacers for Adams State.
Colorado School of Mines' Dillon Powell (29:42.10) won the individual title.
The Grizzlies will now redirect and look to make an impact in 13 days as the women will look to win their third straight championship while the men, who finished second last year, must wait to be announced as an at-large bid on Monday, Nov. 21st. The women are going for their 12th title since 2003 and 20th overall. Adams State has two long streaks where they won seven (2003-09) and eight (1992-99) in a row.
