Sweeney, Miles Named Coaches of the Year

Still catching up on some of last week's news ...

St. Thomas women's cross country coach Joe Sweeney and St. John's men's coach Tim Miles were named Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Cross Country Coaches of the Year. Sweeney's squad earned a tight win over Carleton and St. Olaf at the conference's championship in St. Paul on October 27. Miles' Johnnie's won the men's title over Carleton 49-63.

The MIAC also named individual champions Marie Borner of Bethel and Chris Erichsen of St. John's its Athletes of the Year. The league also listed its all-conference and sportsmanship squads.

Details on all the women's awards can be found HERE. Men's details are HERE.

Regionals next ... MIAC squads will compete at the NCAA Central Regional on Saturday at St. Olaf. The top two women's and men's teams at the meet earn automatic berths into the NCAA Division III National Championship, also held at St. Olaf. The region could send as many as five teams each to nationals with "at large" selections," however.

The latest Central Region women's rankings are:

1. Nebraska Wesleyan
2. Luther
3. University of St. Thomas
4. Carleton College
5. St. Olaf College
6. Grinnell College
7. Wartburg College
8. Central College
9. Bethel University
10. St. Benedict

The pollsters rate the men:

1. St. John's
2. Nebraska Wesleyan
3. Carleton
4. Luther
5. Grinnell
6. Wartburg
7. Hamline
8. St. Olaf
9. Gustavus Adolphus
10. Bethel