November 26, 2014
Five Spartans Named All-Region Runners
NEW ORLEANS - All-Region honorees for NCAA
Division II Cross Country were recognized by the U.S. Track &
Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) following
the weekend's NCAA regional championships meets.
The University of Tampa's Matt Hoffman represented the Spartan
men while four women's runners were recognized. Chantalle Blundell,
Claudia Cancello, Elaina Cancello and Aislinn Sroczynski were each
honored from the 2014 NCAA South Region champions. Additionally,
women's head coach Jarrett Slaven was named the South Region Coach
of the Year.
Led by Jarrett Slaven in his 16th year at the school, the
Spartans won its eighth-straight region title, topping the field
and runner-up Saint Leo, 63-73. The team finished second at the
Sunshine State Conference Championships earlier in the year.
A total of 397 student-athletes (199 men and 198 women) earned
the distinction by finishing among the top 25 individual finishers
at one of the eight regional sites across the country.
Five teams put their entire varsity in the top 25. They would
be the Adams State women, and the men of American International,
Augustana (S.D.), Grand Valley State, and Lock Haven.
Two women's teams had six All-Region runners: Roberts Wesleyan
and Stonehill. Shippensburg, Chico State, and Alaska Anchorage
each had six All-Region men.
Adams State, Augustana, and Grand Valley State led the way
with 12 combined honorees. Stonehill had 11, and Roberts Wesleyan,
Edinboro, and Chico State had 10.
Most regions were dominated by a single conferences. Remember,
each region has 50 runners receive All-Region. 31 of the Central's
came from the Northern Sun, 34 of the East's came from the
Northeast-10, 39 of the Midwest's came from the GLIAC, and 40 of
the South Central's came from the RMAC. But none of those
conferences top the PSAC, which provided the Atlantic Region with
all 50 of its honorees.
The NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships will be held
December 6 in Louisville, Kentucky, at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park
as part of the 2014 NCAA Division II National Championships
Festival. A live stream will be available on NCAA.com.