Who will LR pick as NCAA #1 and #2?

Anyone?

Maybe Arkansas

CU and Stanford

man oregon looks strong. if that french guy can pull it together a little better for 10k cross plus erik jenkins could be another huge low stick for the ducks.

Its clearly Colorado (1) and Stanford (2).

Colorado is a no brainer

Stanford returns 3 and 5 from last year's meet, the latter being Jim Rosa. They will add Joe Rosa this fall who has always been better than his twin at XC. Plus their freshman went 1-2-3 at the US Junior XC Champs last fall and they will all now have a year or training with the team under their belts.

And don't forget that Maksim Korolev transferred from Harvard to Stanford and has one more year of eligibility.

ex-Cardinal wrote:

And don't forget that Maksim Korolev transferred from Harvard to Stanford and has one more year of eligibility.

He wasn't forgotten. He is the #3 from last years meet who was referenced.

I think that the clear favorites for the top two spots this year are Colorado and Stanford. Colorado must be in there because they won convincingly last year, return everyone, and bring back Hurysz who would be the #1 guy on almost every team in the NCAA. Even a guy who has run 13:XX in his career might only be their 6th or 7th man this year.

Stanford returns one Rosa who was top 5 at NCAAs last year, the better Rosa, McGorty who ran 13:37 as a freshman, and a transfer in Korolev who was 3rd at NCAAs last year. That's a crazy top 4 but I think they'll end up losing to CU with the 5th man.

You could make a case for Oregon being top 2 with the individual favorite Cheserek, plus the always impressive supporting cast, but I don't see them with more than 2 other guys being top 25. Despite their amazing depth of many sub 3:45/sub 14:10 guys, CU and Stanford have the ability to put 3-4 guys in the top 20 on a given day and potentially can put their 5th guy in the 20-40 range, especially if a 5th guy shapes up for Stanford.

Michael Atchoo deciding to return for his 5th xc season, despite having no more track eligibility, will likely be the pivot point for Stanford.

Presuming no injuries or illnesses this fall with Rosa-Rosa-McGorty, this trio has the talent to finish top-10.

If the "good" Korolev shows up like last fall, another top-10 as well . . . but this guy's racing has been, well, erratic.

Atchoo was 3rd man and 100th overall last fall. Has gotten a little better every season. Hoping for at least 70th place, 50th would be great, 40th/AA would be the race of his career.

Stanford loses Thomas Graham (dropped off the track team this past spring) but does return Garrett Sweatt from the top-7 along with reserves Brinkley and Bertolotti (both milers who made travel squads last fall).

Redshirt frosh Keelan, Wharton, Buttinger, Gibson, Silva, Coyle should be competitive for spots on the travel squad as well but can't see them breaking into the top-5.

Expect all true frosh to redshirt.

Loaded squad for sure, but coming off two consecutive NCAA choke jobs and facing a CO team which has greatness written all over it, would happy just for a podium spot which they haven't sniffed for a long time.

Alani wrote:

Loaded squad for sure, but coming off two consecutive NCAA choke jobs and facing a CO team which has greatness written all over it, would happy just for a podium spot which they haven't sniffed for a long time.

I wouldn't call two years a long time.