Tribune-Star staff report
Although the Indiana State men’s cross country team narrowly missed an at-large selection to the 2009 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships, the Sycamores did make a huge leap up in the pre-championship Great Lakes Region poll and received votes in the final national NCAA poll.
“This is a great testament to how hard these guys have worked this season,” Indiana State coach John McNichols said. “After winning the Valley, we knew we had a chance to do well at the regional. Our guys put it all on the line last Saturday and came away with our best finish ever.”
The Sycamores, who surprised nearly everyone except themselves in finishing fourth at the Great Lakes Region Championship on Saturday in Bloomington, were ranked fourth in the Great Lakes Region.
Indiana State also received two points in the USTFCCCA national rankings which puts them in a tie for 33rd nationally.
ISU had entered the regional championship ranked eighth in the Great Lakes Region. The Sycamores capitalized on a tremendous effort at the 2009 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference championships to run their best race ever in the Great Lakes Region Championship.
The Sycamores upset pre-championship favorite Southern Illinois to win their sixth Missouri Valley Conference crown and head coach John McNichols received his sixth MVC Coach of the Year award in the process. Indiana State then went to the regional and finished fourth overall, their highest finish ever in the region championship.
The only teams above Indiana State also finished ahead of the Sycamores at the region and will be at the 2009 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships which will be hosted by Indiana State University on Monday, Nov. 23.
Wisconsin, who has won 11 straight region titles, stayed on top of the Great Lakes poll, a spot they have held all season long. Michigan State jumped from 10th to second while Ohio State remained in the third spot. The Badgers are ranked 10th in the nation while Michigan State is ranked 28th and Ohio State 32nd.
The NCAA Championships are Monday at LaVern Gibson Championship Course in Terre Haute. ISU will be represented by individual qualifier Eric Schulz.
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• Middle school — The following scores were reported from Tuesday’s action:
Eighth grade — Woodrow Wilson 56 (Lucas Comer 11), Chauncey Rose 14 (D.J. Jackson 8).
Seventh grade — Honey Creek 47 (Jared Wolfe 9, Connor Shipley 7), West Vigo 27 (Alex West 11); Otter Creek 33 (Chester 19), Sarah Scott 18 (Rico Spencer 8).
