Top Division 2 Runners Get Chance To Run At Abbey Golf Course Ahead Of November NCAA Championships

By Todd Grasley for DyeStat

Several of the best individuals and teams in NCAA Division 2 will descend on Saint Leo, Fla., just outside of Tampa for the Division 2 National Championship Preview on Saturday. The Abbey Golf Course will also play host to both the South Regional Meet and Division 2 National Championships next month.

Saint Leo University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida Southern College, Valdosta State University, the University of Mount Olive, Florida Institute of Technology, Catawba College, Wingate University, Palm Beach Atlantic University, and the University of Tampa will all take part in Saturday's meet.

Fresno Pacific and Daytona State are sending just men's teams for a 12-team field, while Arkansas Tech will send just a women's team to the race to complete an 11-team field.

In the women's 6-kilometer race, Tampa is ranked No. 3 in the South Region, Saint Leo is ranked No. 4, Florida Southern is No. 7 and Palm Beach Atlantic is No. 8. And Wingate is ranked No. 2 in the Southeast Region, with Catawba College at No. 9. Lee (Tennessee) and Mississippi College the top two ranked teams in the Division 2 South Region rankings will not be in attendance.

On the individual side, Lara Orrock of Wingate will try to break up the home team duo of Irish athlete Anna O'Connor, along with Paige Patterson, who won the Sunshine State Conference Championship in February. University of Tampa senior Zoe Jarvis, the 2019 Sunshine State Conference Champion, NCAA Division 2 All-American, and two-time national qualifier also figures to be in the mix. 

In the men's 8-kilometer race, Florida Southern is ranked No. 3 in the South Region, Tampa is No. 5, Saint Leo is No. 6 and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical is No. 7. And Wingate is ranked No. 3 in the Southeast Region, with Catawba College at No. 6 and Mount Olive at No. 9.

Fresno Pacific front runner Patrick Kiprop is the favorite on the individual side with Mt. Olive's Cas Kopmels, Florida Southern's Mason Jones and Saint Leo's Shane Bracken trying to contend for the top spot as well.