That's right. It's time to start talking about cross country again.

While athletes across the country continue to put in their summer miles and prepare for the long road ahead, we've been gathering data to find out who will be crowned champion at the NCAA D2 Cross Country Championships this November in Joplin, MO. Take a look at the top 10 teams as of early September.



Last Year: 2nd

The Returning Squad:
Bryce Bradley (27th at NCAA XC '14; 14:12 5K) 
Chad Cini (36th at NCAA XC '14; 14:45 5K)
Chris May (37th at NCAA XC '14; 14:22 5K) 
Brady Selner (39th at NCAA XC '14; 14:47 5K)
Wuoi Mach (64th at NCAA XC '14; 3:48 1500)
Kyle Flores (80th at NCAA XC '14)

X-Factors:
Zach Panning (14:21 5K)
Simon Thorpe (14:44 5K)

Analysis:
I truly believe Grand Valley State is the team to beat this year in Joplin. They only lost one runner to graduation, and despite it being their lowest stick in 2014, the Lakers have the depth to make up for the loss of Alan Peterson. They have four returning All Americans (tied for the most in the country), and have shown they know what it takes to compete at a national championship. On top of their cross country performances, they followed up with some strong running in the spring. Look for Zach Panning and Simon Thorpe to make an impact after redshirting last year. Grand Valley has finished runner-up the past two years at the NCAA Championships, and have never won the team title. If there is any year to do it, it's 2015. 



Last Year: 1st

The Returning Squad:

X-Factors:
Sydney Gidabuday (14:21 5K; 23:54 8K at Fort Hays Tiger Open)
Oliver Aitchison (3:40 1500; 1st at NCAA 1500 '15; 24:42 at Fort Hays Tiger Open)
Kyle Masterson (18th at NCAA XC '13)

Analysis:
Adams State is damn-near synonymous with Division 2 nowadays. They've been a dominant force in cross country since 2008, and have won 11 national championships since 1992. It should go without saying that Coach Damon Martin and the Grizzlies are favorites to take home the NCAA title. 

Except this year.

For the first time in a very long time, Adams State is rebuilding. They lose their top three runners from last fall, who also happened to be three of the best runners in the entire division for the last few years. Without Tabor Stevens, Kevin Batt, and Matt Daniels, the Grizzlies will need some of their younger runners to step up in a big way if they want a chance at defending their title. Despite their extremely dependable tradition of success, their returning runners just don't have the cross country accolades to justify a higher ranking than Grand Valley State this early in the season. 



Last Year: 3rd

The Returning Squad:
Harald Kabro (6th at NCAA XC '14; 8:56 3K Steeple)
Nathan Hague (32nd at NCAA XC '14)
Glen Ellingson (34th at NCAA XC '14; 14:43 5K)
John Klecker (68th at NCAA XC '14)
Keegan Karda (125th at NCAA XC '14; 14:45 5K; 31:48 10K)

X-Factors:
Shane McCallum (66th at NCAA XC '12)

Analysis:
You can always count on Augustana to do one thing year in and year out: show up when it counts. For a university with a smaller population than most high schools, the men from Sioux Falls, SD have developed a reputation of being the division underdog. Despite constant eighth and ninth place rankings in the USTFCCCA coaches' poll, the Vikings always find themselves bringing home hardware come championship season. Since finishing 10th at the 2009 NCAA Championships, the Vikings have improved on their placing at NCAA Championship every year since, finishing in third place for the last two years in a row. This year it's a bit more difficult to consider Augustana an underdog seeing how they return three All Americans from last year's team. While their track resumes aren't anything outstanding, the Vikings know their way around a cross country course. Look for Harald Habro to challenge Johnnie Guy of Southern Indiana and Henry Cheseto of Alaska Anchorage for the individual win.



Last Year: 6th

The Returning Squad:
Henry Cheseto (18th at NCAA XC '14; 14:08 5K; 29:49 10K)
Domink Notz (28th at NCAA XC '14; 14:07 5K; 29:26 10K) 
Michael Ramirez (30th at NCAA XC '14)
Edwin Kangogo (90th at NCAA XC '14; 14:49 5K; 30:31 10K)
Victor Samoei (108th at NCAA XC '14; 14:41 5K; 30:11 10K)

X-Factors:
Nathan Kipchumba (3:52 1500)
Michael Mendenhall (3:53 1500)

Analysis:
After finishing in second place to Chico State at the 2014 NCAA West Region Championships, the Seawolves looked like a different team two weeks later in Louisville, KY. Led by an 18th-place finish from Henry Cheseto, Alaska Anchorage scored 196 points, good for a sixth place finish. This year the Seawolves only lose two of their seven finishers from last year. But the five they do return all produced solid marks on the track this past spring. If these five runners can make it to Joplin in good shape, Alaska Anchorage will be a force to be reckoned with.



Last Year: 4th

The Returning Squad:
Marty Andrie (119th at NCAA XC '14; 13:57 5K; 4th at NCAA 5K '15)
Nathaniel Williams (31st at NCAA XC '14; 15:23 5K at altitude)
Dan Mahoney (42nd at NCAA XC '14; 30:14 10K)
Seth Topper (59th at NCAA XC '14; 15:40 5K at altitude; 31:25 10K at altitude)

X-Factors: 
Chris Erwin (15:17 5K at altitude; 32:05 10K at altitude)
Grant Colligan (25:00 8K at Fort Hays Tiger Invite)

Analysis:
The Colorado Mines lose their two lowest sticks from 2014, but in return, bring back four runners from their 2014 squad. Nathaniel Williams will most likely be their number one, unless Marty Andrie can translate his success on the track to the cross country course. Dan Mahoney and Seth Topper are the two other returners with championship expierence, but if they can put themselves inside the top 40, there is no reason Mines can't compete with the likes of Augustana and Alaska. If the Miners can produce a solid fifth man, the men from Golden, CO will be golden.



Last Year: 7th

The Returning Squad:
Johnnie Guy (8th at NCAA XC '14; 14:01 5K; 28:47 10K)
Tyler Schickel (40th at NCAA XC '14; 3:47 1500; 14:32 5K)
Noah Lutz (106th at NCAA XC '14; 14:37 5K)

X-Factors:
Josh Guy (30:04 10K; 6th at NCAA 10K '15)
Chase Broughton (9:01 3K Steeple; 14:50 5K)

Analysis:
After a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships last year, the Screaming Eagles of Southern Indiana are in contention for a spot on the podium this year if everyone can stay healthy, and if Josh Guy can keep his success from outdoor season rolling. With Tyler Pence now gone, 28:47 10K runner Johnnie Guy will need to contend for the win to put his team inside the top four. While they do return two All Americans from last year, their lack of depth might be the only thing getting in the way of their success. 



Last Year: 14th

The Returning Squad:
Kyle Medina (62nd at NCAA XC '14; 3:46 1500; 14:27 5K; 5th at NCAA 1500 '15) 
Nick Grubiss (93rd at NCAA XC '14; 14:10 5K; 10th at NCAA 5K '15)
Aaron Mora (118th at NCAA XC '14; 14:33 5K; 29:55 10K; 10th at NCAA 10K '15)

X-Factors:
Will Reyes (14:08 5K; 29:41 10K)
Falco Digillanado (3:49 1500; 8:21 3K; 14:25 5K)
Steven Martinez (14:36 5K)
Connor Fisher (14:27 5K)

Analysis:
For the first time since 2002, the Wildcats don’t have any XC All Americans on their cross country roster. Coming into nationals last year, the Wildcats were ranked fourth in the coaches' poll, but when their fifth man crossed the line in 138th, Chico State found themselves in 14th place, their worst finish at nationals since 1999. Despite their poor finish in the fall, the Wildcats had arguably the strongest track season of any distance squad in Division 2. Sophomore Nick Grubiss finished 10th in the 5K, sophomore Aaron Mora finished 10th in the 10K, and freshman Kyle Medina finished fifth in the 1500m final at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Allendale, MI. With the additions of some transfers and redshirts from last season, the Wildcats are no doubt a top 10 team on paper. 



Last Year: 5th

The Returning Squad:
Keifer Johnson (29th at NCAA XC '14; 15:09 5K at altitude)
John Patterson (49th at NCAA XC '14; 14:45 5K)
Tyler Saiz (67th at NCAA XC '14)
Michael Cernoia (150th at NCAA XC '14; 14:56 5K)

X-Factors:
Dawid Konieczek (8:56 3K Steeple; 15:10 5K; 9th at NCAA 3K Steeple '15)

Analysis:
Like many of the RMAC teams this season, Western State is also rebuilding. The Mountaineers are coming off a fifth-place finish from last year in Louisville, but lose three of their scorers from last year. If Western can put together some solid runners on the back-end, and Keifer Johnson can finish inside the top 10, there is no reason the Mountaineers can't compete for a top five finish. And if Ryan Haebe can continue to improve and even get close to his previous level of competition, this could greatly benefit the Mountaineers.



Last Year: 16th

The Returning Squad:
Mark Huizar (45th at NCAA XC '14; 14:19 5K; 31:32 10K)
Francisco Gomez (91st at NCAA XC '14; 14:23 5K; 30:11 10K)
Ruben Dominguez (101st at NCAA XC '14; 14:38 5K)
Teague Senniger (126th at NCAA XC '14; 14:49 5K)
John Domimguez (133rd at NCAA XC '14; 15:01 5K)
Troy Stechmann (157th at NCAA XC '14)

X-Factors:
Isaac Diosdado (8:32 3K; 14:39 5K)
Grant Stromberg (8:35 3K; 14:33 5K)

Analysis:
Much like their California counterpart to the north, Cal Poly Pomona finished well outside the top 10 last year in Louisville, but showed very promising times on the oval this spring. The Broncos will return all but their number seven runner from the 2014 squad. Leading the charge is Mark Huizar, who finished 45th last year and recorded a 14:19 5K on the track this spring. Francisco Gomez proved his 91st place finish last year was far from his best after running a 14:23 5K and a 30:11 in the 10K this track season. Among these two Broncos are many more, who's results suggest that a top 10 finish in Joplin is well within reach. 



Last Year: 8th

The Returning Squad:
Matt Horan (20th at NCAA XC '14; 14:41 5K; 31:19 10K)
Ethan Tabbert (71st at NCAA XC '14; 31:25 10K)
Jase Kraft (142nd at NCAA XC '14)
Cody Herman (174th at NCAA XC '14)
Jacob Benson (224th at NCAA XC '14)

X-Factors:
Billy Beseman (4:22 1600; 9:23 3200)
Steven Brown (9:45 3200)

Analysis:
The men from Sioux Falls had the race of their lives last year, finishing eighth at the NCAA Championships after being ranked 12th coming into the race. With the Brockmueller brothers graduated, 20th-place finisher Matt Horan will have to step up to lead this young team to success. Ethan Tabbert, who finished 71st last year, will also play a key role for the Cougars. With the help of some incoming freshmen, and hopefully another great race come nationals, the Sioux Falls Cougars could find themselves inside the top ten again in November.