I figured its about that time to start up the official D3 Cross Country Thread to get some discussion going about this upcoming season. I think there was another thread already started but I couldn't find it so I think it may have been deleted. This thread is mainly to talk about predictions, results, etc. for this upcoming D3 cross season.
Team Race: This year should be a pretty solid race up front between Wash U, LaCrosse and North Central. North Central probably is the favorite and preseason number 1, returning 5k national champion John Crain along with 2 other guys who qualified in the 10k and 5 of their top 7. Wash U should be really good though, returning Kevin Sparks who got 4th at cross nats last year, along with a solid 2/3 punch of 14:25 Padgett and 30:19 Ellenberger (Wash U returns 6 of 7). Lacrosse returns 5 of 7, not including 14:20 guy David Stillin who for some reason didn't run cross last year. Lacrosse had 5 guys run 3:52 or faster last year so if they can convert some of those guys to distance runners, they could have a pretty stellar squad. Last to mention, Haverford, whose gone 1,2,2 the last three years at nationals, is never to be left out of the conversation, returns 5 guys who have broken 15 and the indoor national champion in the 5k. I'm sure they will be right up there as well.
Individual: This one's a bit more of a crap shoot. 9 of the top 15 from cross supposivly return (I say supposive because Over didn't really run outdoors and I don't know if he's coming back for cross). Included in this group is the indoor 5k champ (Stradler from Haverford) the outdoor 5k champ (Crain from NCC), 2nd,3rd,and 4th place from cross nats last year (Over from Allegheny, Wintheiser from St. Olafs, and Sparks from Wash U)- not to mention several Leduc from Conn College who won the steeple.
I would say the favorites would be Crain, Stradler, and Leduc- all three are national champions in track and have been relatively consistent.