HAAC News
Wed, Sep 23, 2009 - [Women's Cross Country] - Viewed 467 times
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - With 20 first-place votes, Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) becomes the third No. 1 team in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Women's Cross Country poll, the NAIA announced Wednesday. The defending national champion was awarded 680 points and moved up four spots from last week. Dropping down to No. 2 is California State University-San Marcos, followed by Simon Fraser University (B.C.) at No. 3. Biola University (Calif.) and Cedarville University (Ohio), who were tied for second last week, are now tied for fourth.

Three teams are new to this week's poll in No. 15 Cornerstone (Mich.), No. 21 Vanguard (Calif.) and No. 23 Eastern Oregon. Cornerstone and Vanguard were both receiving votes last week, while Eastern Oregon was unranked. The Golden State Athletic Conference still leads the way in representation with five teams earning national recognition in Azusa Pacific, Biola, No. 7 Concordia (Calif.), No. 14 Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) and Vanguard.

California State University-San Marcos drops back a spot to No. 2 with four first-place votes and 663 points. The Cougars of both Azusa Pacific and California State University-San Marcos hold tightly to the top-two spots as Simon Fraser sits at No. 3 with 619 points. The Clan, who were the preseason No. 1 squad, moves up a spot after falling to No. 4 in the first regular-season poll.

With only one point separating No. 3 from 4, Biola and Cedarville captured 618 points this week. The pair was tied at 613 points a week ago and currently have a 52-point advantage on the College of Idaho, the sixth-ranked team.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences. The next poll will be released on Sept. 30.

RANK

LAST WEEK

SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES)

TOTAL POINTS

1

5

Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) (20)

680

2

1

California State University-San Marcos (4)

663

3

4

Simon Fraser University (B.C.)

619

4

2

Biola University (Calif.)

618

4

2

Cedarville University (Ohio)

618

6

7

College of Idaho

566

7

6

Malone University (Ohio)

560

8

8

Concordia University (Calif.)

527

9

9

Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho)

510

10

10

Indiana Wesleyan University

471

11

12

Concordia University (Neb.)

464

12

15

Aquinas College (Mich.)

425

13

14

Concordia University (Ore.)

413

14

13

Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.)

400

15

RV

Cornerstone University (Mich.)

355

16

17

Spring Arbor University (Mich.)

336

17

16

Saint Xavier University (Ill.)

328

18

18

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.)

297

19

19

Morningside College (Iowa)

252

20

20

Jamestown College (N.D.)

246

21

RV

Vanguard University (Calif.)

231

22

11

Milligan College (Tenn.)

206

23

RV

Eastern Oregon University

158

24

21

Black Hills State University (S.D.)

146

25

NR

Park University (Mo.)

139

Others receiving votes: Kansas Wesleyan University 120; Shawnee State University (Ohio) 119; Bethel College (Ind.) 86; Doane College (Neb.) 86; Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) 77; Friends University (Kan.) 57; Shorter College (Ga.) 52; University of British Columbia 42; Oklahoma Baptist University 13; Northwest Christian University (Ore.) 12; Taylor University (Ind.) 10; Dakota State University (S.D.) 4; Dordt College (Iowa) 4; Illinois Institute of Technology 1; Mount Mercy College (Iowa) 1; Oklahoma Christian University 1; Viterbo University (Wis.) 1; Benedictine College (Kan.) 1; Savannah College of Art and Design (Ga.) 1.

 
 
 
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