TERRE HAUTE, IND. -- The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology men's cross country team has been picked to finish second in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference this season, in a preseason poll of league coaches released today.
The poll kicks off a busy season for the Rose-Hulman men's cross country that includes hosting two prestigious meets at the LaVern Gibson Course.
Rose-Hulman will host the 2012 NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships on Nov. 17. The event marks the first time Rose-Hulman will host the Cross Country National Championships for Division III.
Other national championships held at Rose-Hulman include the 1995 Men's and Women's Golf Championships; the 2002 and 2003 Women's Basketball Championships; and the 2007 and 2009 Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Prior to the NCAA Championships, Rose-Hulman will host perhaps the nation's largest Division III meet with the Pre-Nationals on Oct. 6. The current Pre-National Meet List includes 36 institutions from 14 states across the country.
The Rose-Hulman men's cross country team is led by sophomores Josh Hojnacki (La Porte) and Stuart West (La Porte). West was named HCAC Freshman of the Year in 2011 after placing 11th overall, while Hojnacki earned honorable mention all-league accolades.
The women's cross country team was picked to finish eighth in the HCAC preseason poll. Senior Creasy Clauser (Crawfordsville/Southmont) joins sophomore Nicole Gonzalez (Camarillo, Calif.) as runners who have received all-league or honorable mention all-league recognition during their careers.
Rose-Hulman begins the season with the Indiana Intercollegiate Meet at the LaVern Gibson Course, hosted by Indiana State, on Sept. 14.