D2 South Central

The truth is...it is going to be hard for any sea-level team to make it out since the regional is held in Denver. OC was close last year; don't know much about them though.

Looks like the traditional powers will make it out as usual. Such a strong region with all of the RMAC schools. The other two conferences need to step it up...the regional is a glorified tempo for most of these RMAC schools.

I'm still dumbfounded as to why a region would be at such an altitude. I will agree that the Lone Star and Heartland need to get better, but I think the Heartland is taking a big step this year. It will be better than the Lone Star, and could have 3 teams finish in the top 12 at regionals.

Adams, Mines and Western are all traditional powerhouses and that should continue to be the case. I just have questions about the other teams that have a chance to make top 5.

Does Pueblo have the depth after Williams, Roberst and Lager to make it nationals?

How strong is West Texas A&M? I see they are running at the Jamboree next week so that will be a big indicator of their fitness. Is Kipchumba injured or are they just brining him along slowly?

What team will be the Metro State from last year? The Roadrunners finished a surprising fourth at the Regional meet.

My predictions as of now would be 1. Mines 2. Adams (very close between them and mines) 3. CSU Pueblo 4. Western 5. Dallas Baptist

Mines looks very good this year and has tons of depth. They had 7 guys go under 25:33 at 6,000 feet elevation and 3 more sub 26:00(Colorado College Invite). They have 3 returning All-Americans from last year and a few low 30 10k track guys that weren't even on their top 7 last year! Returning national champions.

Adams is consistently good every year. Damon Martin knows how to build a team and they had great results at their home meet. 10 people sub 25:35 at 7,500 feet. The course is fast but that is an outstanding performance this early in the season. They are also hungry after losing last year being ranked 1st all year. They return 1 All-American from last year but 2 guys who were 41 and 42.

CSU Pueblo also has looked good at their meets this season. They return 2 All-Americans and add Paul Roberts (high school standout from Colorado) who will certainly be an All-American barring any major setback. If you add in Dante Carter (mid distance guy) who ran 25:39 at 6,000 feet and Ben Vaughn who was 25th at regionals last year you have a solid top 5. However, they don't have the depth of a 6 and 7 guy like Adams and Mines.

Western State also is consistently good every year. I haven't seen Keifer Johnson in the results this year and he missed outdoor track so he could be inured still but if not he was 4th overall last year so that could be a good low stick. John Patterson is a sub 29:40 10k guy on the track. Ross Husch was their number one at the CSU 5k and was RMAC athlete of the week. They could be good this year. They have a home meet today so that might shed some light on their teams depth at the 8k distance.

Dallas Baptist is who I would pick for 5th as of now. It's a CLOSE toss up between them Black Hills and West Texas A&M. I didn't even think they were gonna be good but was looking through results and they had 3 guys sub 25:10 at the MSSU meet today. 2nd overall at the meet. That;s a damn good performance. If they can get their 4 and 5 guys (26:10 and 26;20) to come around a little that is a strong team.

Black Hills State barely qualified last year and didn't race particularly well at their home meet this year (in terms of time, they still won) however, it's hard to interpret what that result is worth since the race was not competitive at all. They race next week at Roy Griak so that will be a better display of their team. They do return a 43rd place guy from nationals last year and the steeplechase national champion. They lost Alec Baldwin but if they can fill in some holes they have a good shot.

West Texas was 5th last year. Based on their eligibility from Nationals last year they should return their top 4 however only 2 of them ran their home meet this year. I don't know about Kipchumba (20th at nationals last year)

but if he's out that would hurt their team quite a bit. CSU-Pueblo beat them by 46 points at their home meet this year. With only 4 teams that is a huge margin. That was a poor result. If they actually return those 4 guys and come around they have a shot but as of now they don't look very good.

Mesa beat Metro State at the CSU 5k at the beginning of the season so they might be the wild card team. They race today at Western's home meet but who knows if they are running their A squad since they are also running Griak next week. Only graduated 1 from top 7 last year.

Metro State didn't have a good showing at the Colorado College Invite. 3rd, 54 points behind CSU Pueblo (2nd) at a small meet. However, as mentioned above they were 4th last year out of nowhere so maybe they will peak at the right time again. Looks like they lost their All-American from last year and are redshirting their number 2 guy. Also running Griak next week.

Oklahoma Christian had two pretty good finishers at the MSSU meet today but huge gaps after that.

UCCS had a bad performance at the Michigan State meet. Kimayio was 20th and their next wasn't 87th then a huge gap for the rest of their team. No chance.

For individuals at regionals it's gonna be a good race.

Sydney Gidabuday (13:36 5k guy, 6th at nationals last year)

Keifer Johnson (if he's healthy, regional champion, 4th at nationals last year)

Collins Kirui (2nd at regionals, 12 at nationals last year)

Jackson Saylor (2nd at RMAC's, 42nd at nationals last year)

Kyle Masterson (41st at nationals last year, 18th at nationals 3 years ago)

Dan Mahoney (RMAC Champion, 22nd at nationals, and 5th at regionals last year)

Nathaniel Williams (21st at nationals last year)

Derrick Williams (14th at nationals last year)

Marcelo Laguera (25 th at nationals last year)

Paul Roberts (National high school standout)

Geoffery Kipchumba (if he's healthy, 20th at Nationals last year)

I'm sure I'm forgetting some people but this region is absolutely stacked in terms of team and individual depth. If the cards play right I wouldn't be surprised if top 3 from this region all podium (top 4) at nationals. That would be crazy!

The South Central Region is by far the toughest region in D2 especially with the reduction to 5 spots this year (complete crap).

Top 6:

1. Mines

2. Adams

3. Pueblo

4. Western

5. UCCS

6. Black Hills

Coach2229 wrote:

The South Central Region is by far the toughest region in D2 especially with the reduction to 5 spots this year (complete crap).

Top 6:

1. Mines

2. Adams

3. Pueblo

4. Western

5. UCCS

6. Black Hills

UCCS in 5th?? Why would you say that??

Coach2229 wrote:

The South Central Region is by far the toughest region in D2 especially with the reduction to 5 spots this year (complete crap).

Top 6:

1. Mines

2. Adams

3. Pueblo

4. Western

5. UCCS

6. Black Hills

Interesting top six. I don't think I will make any predictions until early October. I have a feeling that some teams haven't run at full strength yet.

Talked to a guy on their team. UCCS only ran 6 of their top 10 men and 3 of their top 5 at Michigan State. They left four men at home for an intrasquad meet. One had an illness, three other they are running unattached until mid-season. Time will tell in November for everyone though.

The MSU meet had 454 guys start the race and 44 DNF'd, it was very hot and humid, race started at noon. Top 20 men - 8 were D2, 4 were unattached and 8 were D1. Grand Valley State won it.

DBU was the big surprise of the weekend, they were picked 2nd in their conference in a close poll, but really showed this weekend they've got bigger plans in mind. It'll be interesting to see if they get any respect this week in the polls beating ECU who was ranked 14th in the nation if IRC.

Anybody going to OSU this weekend?

West Texas will be there (OSU).

The question is...will any non-altitude based teams or individuals make it out of Denver this year?

From the South Central it looks like only WT and OC. Doesn't look liek the next good meet will be til Fort Hayes.

Coach2229 wrote:

The South Central Region is by far the toughest region in D2 especially with the reduction to 5 spots this year (complete crap).

Top 6:

1. Mines

2. Adams

3. Pueblo

4. Western

5. UCCS

6. Black Hills

Why do you say Adams will make it? With their 'strong' start to the season, they wont make it past Denver. The better they do at their first meet(obviously peaked) the more they falter in November.

Nice... Troll much? Lol

Adams will obviously make it to nationals. Although I'll say that Mines is the top dog this year and will win regionals, then repeat at nationals. They've got the key to success!

It will be interesting for sure can't wait until regionals

What would you claim is the key to success?

What's their secret to success?

Hard work and dedication! Those guys are grinders too, have you ever seen them race? They're all out from the gun! Like my hero Steve prefontain!!! "The best pace is a suicide pace, and today looks like a good day to die"

Saw the results from the Jamboree and Griak this morning. Slow day.

WT only averaged 27:01 as a team over 8k; while Oklahoma Christian only averaged 27:33 over 8k.

At the Griak Black Hills State only averaged 27:11 over 8k, while Metro State was pretty far back at 27:39 team average over 8k.

A couple of questions:

1. Why so slow this year? Hot? Humid? Storms?

2. Where is the Kenyan guy from WT? Have not seen him in any results this fall?

I'm interested to see what CSU-Pueblo does at Chile Pepper next week; could be a pretty weak year in the South Central after the top 3 teams.