LCSC cross country teams remain steady in polls

 10-24-07

After dominating performances in its own invitational last weekend, the Lewis-Clark State College men’s and women’s cross country teams remained steady in this week’s NAIA Top 25 poll, which was released on Wednesday. 

The men’s team stayed at No. 8, while the women’s team climbed one spot to No. 16. 

The men’s team placed six runners among the top 10 in rolling to the title last Saturday at Lewiston’s Hells Gate State Park. LCSC had 17 points, while Carroll College was in second at 74. The meet features all the Frontier Conference teams as well as Whitworth, some junior colleges and individual athletes. 

The women’s team put five in the top 10 to win its side of the race by 50 points over Carroll. 

Both teams are now preparing for the Region I/Frontier Conference meet, which will be held Nov. 3 at Olympia, Wash. LCSC will be the favorite in the conference meet, but both teams will face stiff challenges for the region title. On the men’s side, Eastern Oregon is ranked No. 9, Southern Oregon is No. 15, College of Idaho is No. 23, and Simon Fraser received votes in the poll. 

In the women’s poll, Simon Fraser is the unanimous No. 1 team and the heavy favorite at the regional meet, while British Columbia is tied for seventh. After LCSC, Eastern Oregon is at No. 17 and College of Idaho is No. 20. 

The top finisher in each Region qualifies for 28-team national meet, and the remaining at-large spots are filled based on the rankings. If the national meet were to be held today, both teams would qualify. The national meet is Nov. 17 at Kenosha, Wis. 

“Right now, we’re just getting physically and mentally ready for regionals,” LCSC coach Mike Collins says.  “It all comes down to one race to see if we make it to nationals.”