Cross Country

Adams State, Western State Win Titles at North Central Regional

Women's Team Results
Women's Individual Results
Men's Team Results
Men's Individual Results 

Vermillion, S.D. - November 3, 2007 - The defending national champions Adams State College won the 2007 NCAA North Central women's regional and Western State College won the men's North Central regional.  The women's 6K and the men's 10K races were run at the Don Baker Memorial Cross Country course in Vermillion, S.D. (hosted by University of South Dakota).  The team title for Adams State was their fifth in six years, and the men's title for the Mountaineers was their first since 2004.

The Grizzlies Tanya Gaurmer won the women's race in a time of 20:44.63.  Nine Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference runners finished in the top 15 to earn NCAA All-North Central Region honors (Tanya Gaurmer, Adams State, 20:44.63; Brittany Somers, Adams State, 21:07.80; Lavenna Mullenbach, Adams State, 21:09.02; Lauren Dunsmoor, Colorado State-Pueblo, 21:20.03; Ashley Quintana, Adams State, 21:21.76; Heather Wood, Adams State, 21:22.47; Julianne Payton, Western State, 21:51.70; Janette McCarroll, Adams State, 21:51.99; and Shannon Filar, Western State, 21:51.99).

The other four teams advancing to the NCAA Division II Championships are Western State, Augustana, South Dakota and North Dakota.  CSU-Pueblo's Lauren Dunsmoor's seventh place finish earned her an individual spot at the NCAA championship race.

New Mexico Highlands' Lauren Ngirakamaro set a new course record, finishing the 10K race in 29:44.58.  Ngirakamaro won the race and will also compete with his team at the NCAA Division II National Championships.  Joining Western State and New Mexico Highlands at the NCAA championship race are Adams State, Minnesota State Mankato and Colorado Mines.

All but three of the top 15 runners at the regional championships were from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.  The top 15 finishers earn NCAA All-North Central Region honors:  Lauren Ngirakamaro, New Mexico Highlands, 29:44.58 (course record); Reuben Mwei, Adams State, 30:16.20; Iain Donnan, Western State, 30:19.59; Aaron Clark, Western State, 30:21.02; Aaron Braun, Adams State, 30:23.92; Scott Dahlberg, Western State, 30:38.35; Brian Medigovich, Adams State, 30:44.45; Tyler Pennel, Western State, 30:58.09; David Kemei, New Mexico Highlands, 31:04.73;  Ryan McNiff, Adams State, 31:29.31; Clifton Oertli, Colorado Mines, 31:32.77; and Michael Rooney, Colorado Mines, 31:34.64.

The NCAA Division II National Championships will be Nov. 17 in Joplin, Mo.  Two RMAC women's team and individual runner Lauren Dunsmoor, and four RMAC men's teams will be competing for team and individual titles.