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.