USI Screaming Eagles | Men's Cross Country

November 05, 2008

Eagles setting sights on Midwest Region title,
Trip to NCAA II Championships at stake Saturday

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The No. 10 University of Southern Indiana men's cross country team has its sights set on a region title when it competes in the NCAA II Midwest Region Championships Saturday in Big Rapids, Michigan.

USI, which has been ranked second in the NCAA II Midwest Region rankings for a majority of the season, has won the region title three times in the program's 30-year history, but has not captured the elusive crown since 1991.

Standing in the Screaming Eagles' way is No. 9 Grand Valley State University, which has won the last six regional titles. USI also will get a stiff challenge from No. 17 Wayne State University as well as No. 22 Northern Kentucky University and No. 23 Drury University.

The Eagles, like all teams in this weekend's field, have to contend with the change in distance as they will be running a 10k course for the first time this season. USI needs to finish in the top four to advance to the NCAA II National Championships, which are November 22 in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania.

In addition to the top four teams, the top two individuals that are not on qualifying teams will advance to nationals. All-Region honors go to the top 15 finishers.

USI, which had eight runners earn All-GLVC honors two weeks ago, is coming off a dominating performance at the GLVC Championships. The Eagles had 10 of the top 20 finishers as they claimed their fourth straight conference title and league-record 16th overall.

GLVC Freshman of the Year Dustin Emerick (Elmwood, Illinois) led the Eagles with a third-place finish at the league meet. Senior Bryan Phillips (Kokomo, Indiana), freshman Brendan Devine (Bethel, New York), and junior Brandon Campbell (Portage, Indiana) were fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively.

USTFCCCA Top 25 Poll
1. Adams State
2. Abilene Christian
3. Harding
4. Chico State
5. Western State
6. Alaska Anchorage
7. Queens (NC)
8. UMass Lowell
9. Grand Valley State
10. Southern Indiana
11. Western Washington
12. Edinboro
13. Minnesota State
14. Colorado School of Mines
15. Stonehill
16. Southwest Baptist
17. Wayne State (MI)
18. Slippery Rock
19. Pittsburg State
20. UC San Diego
21. Missouri Southern State
22. Northern Kentucky
23. Drury
24. Southern Connecticut
25. Lock Haven
Dropped Out: No. 25 Florida Southern.

Dan McDonnell,
USI Sports Information

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