Adams State Sweeps the 2017 NCAA DII XC Championship Titles, 21 Named USTFCCCA All-American

11/18/2017 1:05:31 PM

Results

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Adams State (ASU) captured the 2017 men’s and women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Cross Country Championship titles at Angel Mounds in Evansville, Indiana on Saturday.

Sixty-four teams and a total of 642 student-athletes competed in the cross country championships. The last time Adams State swept both titles was back in 2009 in Evansville.

On the women’s side, the Grizzlies picked up their 17^th NCAA national title with a low score of 126 points. The team was led by a ninth-place individual finish from RMAC Champion, Eilish Flanagan (21:08.2). The rest of the teammates in scoring position included Malena Grover in 12^th (21:31.1), Roisin Flanagan (21^st- 21:29.7), HaLeigh Hunter-Galvan (46^th-21:50.3), and Kaylee Bogina (51^st- 21:55.0).

The top individual finisher from the RMAC was Aneta Konieczek of Western. Konieczek finished seventh overall with a time of 21:07.4. The next four finishers for the Mountaineers include Erin Norton (36^th-21:40.6), Glindyll Mancia (92^nd-22:25.8), Amy Penn (118^th- 22:42.0), and Chloe Andrie (142^nd-22:58.9).
Western finished ninth in the team standings with 331 points.

The Orediggers followed behind Western for an 11^th place team finish (341 points). The team was led by senior Molly Reicher’s 33^rd place finish (21:39.2). Rounding-out the Orediggers’ top five are teammates Chloe Cook (71^st-22:11.9), Brook Eberle (93^rd-22:26.0), Megan Wenham (100^th-22:28.0), and Kara Burton (110^th-22:37.4).

UCCS finished 17^th overall. The Mountain Lions scored 454 points and were led by Kayla Wooten. Wooten placed 28^th individually with a time of 21:34.7. Her teammates Molly Klotz (58^th-22:01.2), Aubrey Templeton (127^th-22:48.3), Lauren Stanford (138^th-22:56.3), and Katie Novak (180^th-23:20.5) each contributed to the team score.

For the individual qualifiers, Fort Lewis’ Erin Renner took 80^th in the field with a time of 22:18.1. Miriam Roberts of CSU-Pueblo finished 95^th in the individual standings. Roberts clocked a time of 22:26.4.

On the men’s side, the ASU Grizzlies defended their national title with a team score of 44 points. This is their 13^th national title since 1992. The Grizzlies’ Kale Adams had a leading time of 30:56.7, posting the fastest time out of RMAC competitors. Teammates Elias Gedyon (31:09.3) and Joshua Joseph (31:12.2) finished seventh and ninth respectively. South Central Regional Champion, Lucio Ramirez crossed the line in 13^th (31:23.4) and Sydney Gidabuday would finished 17^th overall (31:31.6).

Colorado School of Mines placed third in the team standings with 85 points. RMAC Champion, Grant Colligan led the Orediggers with a fifth-place individual finish, clocking in at 31:05.6. Completing the top five runners for the Orediggers were Logan Ramlet (12^th-31:21.4), Ricardo Ocampo (14^th-31:25.3), Josh Hoskinson (27^th-31:46.1) and Matthew Kade (45^th-32:03.8).

Western followed closely with a fourth-place team finish. The Mountaineers scored 215 points, led by Jama Ahmed’s 24^th place finish. Ahmed crossed the line in 31:39.9. His teammate Ross Husch was right behind in 25^th place (31:40.2), while Taylor Stack (41^st-31:58.5), Bryant Byrd (71^st-32:27.3) and Dawid Konieczek (101^st-32:53.9) round out the top five Mountaineers.

CSU-Pueblo placed in the top 10 with a seventh-place team finish. The ThunderWolves Marcelo Laguera took 23^rd in the individual standings (31:36.9), Alec Choury placed 28^th (31:46.1), Paul Roberts clocked in at 31:49.4 for 35^th place, Ben Vaughan took 137^th (33:27.9) and Michael Duran finished 147^th (33:38.3).

UCCS’ David Kimaiyo represented the Mountain Lions as he placed 172^nd individually with at time of 34:00.8.

The top 40 student-athletes from each race were named U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-American during the awards ceremony. The RMAC men had 14, while the women picked up seven All-American honors.

About the RMAC:
The RMAC is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15-member schools, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 2018-19, Dixie State University will join the RMAC as the 16th member institution. The RMAC sponsors 23 varsity NCAA sports and has produced 59 NCAA Division II national champions and 48 national runners-up since 1992.