Adams State becomes winningest program in NCAA finals history with 20th Division 2 crown, including third in a row, as Cotter secures seventh career national title; Colorado School of Mines captures third crown with largest men’s margin of victory, as Powell leads seven All-Americans for Orediggers
By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor
UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. – The spotlight centered Friday around the Adams State women, who became the most decorated cross country program regardless of gender or division in NCAA championship history with a 20th Division 2 title at Chambers Creek Regional Park.
But when it comes to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, if some is good, then more is better, and Adams State didn’t mind sharing its presence on the podium with Colorado School of Mines, Colorado Christian and UC-Colorado Springs.
Colorado School of Mines had all seven athletes earn All-America honors by finishing in the top 30 overall to capture its third men’s crown in eight years, producing the largest margin of victory in Division 2 finals history with a 43-177 triumph against Wingate University of North Carolina.
Emporia State held the previous Division 2 all-time mark for most lopsided win by defeating Akron by 130 points in 1963.
Dillon Powell, the reigning Division 2 champion in the 10,000 meters, added a 10-kilometer cross country crown with a strong second-half surge to become the first individual winner for the Orediggers in 29 minutes, 28 seconds.
Colorado Christian took third with 191 points and Grand Valley State finished fourth with 209 points.
Adams State then achieved its own highlights, as Stephanie Cotter became a two-time women’s individual cross country champion by covering the 6-kilometer layout in 19:45.2, leading five All-Americans for the Grizzlies, who won its third in a row against Grand Valley State by a 75-126 margin.
Cotter, who pulled away Friday from runner-up Lindsay Cunningham of Winona State (20:27.2) at the 2-mile mark, also prevailed in the 6-kilometer final in 2019 at the Haggin Oaks Golf Course in Sacramento by clocking 19:15.5.
Since placing 11th at the 2018 Division 2 cross country final in Pennsylvania, Cotter has won seven national titles, including six individual victories along with contributing to a 2019 championship in the indoor distance medley relay.
Colorado School of Mines took third in the women’s final with 164 points and UC-Colorado Springs finished fourth with 184 points.
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