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Sept. 5, 2007
The 2007 Division III cross country season is starting off the way the 2006 season began and ended - with Calvin's men ranked No. 1 in the country. The defending NCAA champions received all eight first-place votes in the preseason men's poll released today by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Calvin won last year's NCAA Division III men's championship with 37 points, far in front of runner-up New York University's 92-point total. This year's first poll reflects that finish, with Calvin and second-ranked NYU joined in the top 10 by Wisconsin-La Crosse, SUNY Cortland, St. John's, North Central, the College of New Jersey, Allegheny, Wheaton and Colorado College. Calvin graduated its top 2006 performer, Tim Finnegan, the runner-up at last year's nationals. But the Knights return three standouts in Jed Christiansen (fifth at the 2006 NCAA Championships), Jon Gries (12th) and Erik VanKampen (17th). This year's NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships will be held Nov. 17 in Northfield, Minn. Calvin will be shooting for its fifth NCAA men's title in eight years under coach Brian Diemer. The top returning individual from the 2006 NCAA Championships is Julian Boggs of No. 10 Colorado. Boggs placed third at last year's nationals. The Division III men's and women's cross country rankings are determined by a committee comprised of coaches representing the eight different regions of the country. The men and women have different representatives on the ranking committees. Amherst is ranked No. 1 in the preseason women's poll. USTFCCCA Division III men's cross country poll 1. Calvin (8)
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