Division II’s top squads duke it out in early-season thriller

No powder-puff season opener for Adams, Western cross country

ALAMOSA, Colo. – While top-ranked college programs tend to have a knack for scheduling week one duds, neither the Adams State nor Western State men’s cross country teams, ranked Nos. 1 & 2 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division II Preseason Poll, shied away from going after each other in a battle for national supremacy at the 18^th Annual PUMA/Joe I. Vigil Open at Cattails GC in Alamosa.

For three straight years the Grizzlies and Mountaineers have finished first and second, respectively, at the NCAA Division II XC Championships. Both members of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), the teams have also finished in that same order at each of the last three league and NCAA Central Regional meets.

Though the Vigil open featured a six-team men’s field, from the gun the battle was clearly, and expectedly, between Adams and Western which distanced themselves from the rest of the field quickly.

Western State alum Josh Eberly, currently running for Brooks, got out to a large lead over the collegiate field, and would go on to a win the 8k race in a time of 24 minutes, 14 seconds. But while he was trailed early by current Mountaineers Ryan Haebe and Tyler Pennel, Adams State senior Nathan Sellers – a 2-time XC all-American – methodically and calmly worked his way to a second place overall and top collegiate finish in 24:28.

But the No. 2-ranked Mountaineers captured the second thru fourth spots in the team scoring in the form of Haebe (24:43), Pennel (24:48) and Gabe Proctor (25:07), each owners of all-American credentials. ASC’s second runner, Jovanny Godinez made his way down the chute in fifth with a time of 25:14, followed by teammates Matt Bond (25:19), Andrew Roberts (25:22) and Tabor Stevens (25:23), all in a four second window.

That pack of four Grizzlies were followed by Western State’s David Goodman (25:34) and Trevor Blackman (25:35), but had already done just enough to secure a 27-28 Adams State victory.

Keegan Calmes (25:43) and Edwin Cruz (25:46.2) were the next two across to round out the Grizzlies’ top seven, followed by Western State’s Adam Sinda (25:46.5). The Grizzlies were also able to finish two more runners for a total of nine before Western State’s seventh man.

Adams and Western claimed the top 17 spots in the collegiate race, and 17 of the top 19 places overall, with only Eberly and Bouler Running Company/adidas sponsored Sean Brown to break joining the mix.

The Grizzlies and Mountaineers are likely to meet up three more times this season, at the RMAC Championships in Denver on Oct. 22, at the NCAA DII Central Regional Championships in Denver on Nov. 5, and at the NCAA DII National Championships in Spokane, Wash. on Nov. 19.