Colorado College Cross Country Teams Prepare for DIII West Regional Championship

The Colorado College men’s and women’s cross country teams aim for success at the Division III West Regional Championship Meet on Saturday, Nov. 16, in Estacada, Ore. The women’s race starts at 10 a.m. (PT), followed by the men’s race at 11 a.m. (PT).

The women’s team, ranked No. 2 nationally, is led by Sydney Rankin, the SCAC Runner of the Year. Rankin won the SCAC individual title on Nov. 2 with a time of 22:11.90, finishing three seconds ahead of teammate Isabel Olson, who placed second. Other strong finishes included Alison Mueller-Hickler in third and Britt Helgaas in fourth. Liz White received the league’s Elite 19 award and all-SCAC honors.

On the men’s side, Will Shuflit, the SCAC champion and Runner of the Year, led the Tigers to their sixth consecutive league title. He finished 22 seconds ahead of the runner-up. Axel Klomprens and Vincent Mangat also earned all-SCAC accolades.

Both teams have had a remarkable season. The women briefly held the No. 1 ranking, achieving significant wins at the John McNicholas Invitational and the Ted Castaneda Classic. The men continuously excelled, with Shuflit setting a school record in the 8K race.

Last year at the West Region meet, the women’s team placed third and finished 22nd at the national level. The men were fourth, led by James Settles, who was the individual region winner.

After the West Regional Meet, both teams hope to qualify for the Division III National Championship in Terre Haute, Ind., on Nov. 23. The winning team from each region earns an automatic bid, while additional teams and top individuals will be chosen as at-large selections. The selections will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 17.

For more details, check the Meet Information and Live Results.