MIAC XC 2017

Northfield, whats in the water wrote:

Not sure if any alumni or senior runners can comment on this, but can anyone remember a time when the MIAC was so dominated by two teams like (potentially) this season?

Carleton and Olaf should very much be on a different level than the rest of the MIAC, which we all must admit, has now been watered down significantly from years past.

2013 and 2014, but the gap between Olaf and Carleton was even bigger. 2015 should've been similar but the Carls did not impress.

Alright Gustavus fanboys, what are the names (or 5k times) of the incoming freshmen that are so good they're going to replace and surpass the class of 2017?

23 9:10 2-milers wrote:

Alright Gustavus fanboys, what are the names (or 5k times) of the incoming freshmen that are so good they're going to replace and surpass the class of 2017?

But seriously. I seriously doubt this freshman class will come in and take the places of a mid 25:xx 8k runner and 10k champ in Evan Jones, and another mid 25:xx and pereniel all-conference runner in Thomas Knobbe. Both of which were 12th and 13th at regions, not conference, regions. It might be more realistic to find a replacement for Dammann, but his consistency was phenomenal, and he was 21st at conference.

I don't doubt that the incoming freshman are great, but unless they are getting two 15:00 5k runners and another 15:30 guy, they aren't going to replicate the impact this most recent class had.

I don't know everyone that they're getting but I do know that they're getting Andrew Stumbo who was a 4x state champ in Iowa (4:25, 9:28, 15:48 for mile, 3200, 5k) so that's one of the predicted incoming freshman that is supposed to replace the lost seniors. They probably have a couple other good guys coming in, but like everyone has said before it will be hard for them to fill the shoes of the leaving seniors on the Gustavus team this first year (especially Knobbe, Jones, and Dammann). Also I think Dammann was 13th at conference not 21st last year.

I did here that GAC is getting a few god runners that can make an impact later in there careers. I wouldn't expect them to produce until they turn 20.

GAC is going to get second in two or three years. They will maybe get fourth this year. The conference may be falling off, but you can't count on three freshmen to replace three all-conference runners. You can hardly count on three freshmen to finish an entire season.

There's too much talk on teams here. I want to hear more about the individual race.

It doesn't seem as a sure thing as some make it out to be. While first inclinations are to pick Donson, let us not be so quick. He is going into his senior season where doubling for the win in both the 1500m and 800m is more than a viable option after his legendary double this past year at NCAA's (2nd in both by a marginal amount). The reason I bring that up is because I seriously doubt their couching staff wants to jeopardize that, or any chances of him running professionally post college (though I doubt that, probably chooses medical school or something).

I think there was a similar feeling going into his sophomore year. That is more than likely why his cross country times dropped dramatically (unless he was hurt).

His freshman year of cross country he was pretty phenomenal (excluding Regionals). Freshman year at MIACs he was 8th in 25:30. Ahead of him were three different national champions and 4 other All-Americans.

Sophomore year he was 20th, far from other runners he should have been running with or beating.

After this past spring, I'm sure he took a long break and worked his way slowly into summer training. He is talented enough to place top 10 without much strain in terms of training, but we shouldn't be so quick to award him the crown.

I say there are no favorites. This, along with the new conference course, makes me extremely excited to see how things shake out this season. I hope to see runners emerge as their teams front runners and to see starts being formed. Or at least an entertaining race..

This is one of the dumber things I've seen on this site in awhile. Sure Donson might not be banging out as many miles at PT this summer, but it's not like he's just half assing cross country season. His sophomore year he didn't get 20th in the conference because he was taking it easy - he was injured for the majority of that season. He'll race as hard as he can at Olaf on 10/28, and he'll probably win. I doubt the Oles can force the pace enough to run away from him, and if he's still around with 1K to go it's his. Will he be All American? Maybe, maybe not, but if he's not it won't be because he didn't care or didn't want to be.

It is extremely unlikely the DCG won't win. He has shown he has good depth with a mid-season 5k. With continued training, bringing a 5k up to a 8k will not be hard.

For the rest of the runners, I would put Carleton's top 5 and St. Olaf's top 5 in the top 15 for conference. It will be a massacre.

That's all folks

St. Olaf is the favorite.

Carleton is closer to Olaf than 3rd place.

SJU or UST will finish 3rd.

GAC will finish no higher than 4th or as low as 8th.

Hamline, Bethel, and MAC could sneak ahead.

Concordia

Augsburg

St. Mary's

Olaf will win

Carleton will maybe get 3rd

GAC will most likely get 3rd or 4th but maybe 2nd

UST will get top 5 or lose to SJU

Bethel will get 5th

SJU could beat UST but will beat Hamline

Hamline will get 7th

MAC won't get above 9th

Concordia won't do well

Saint Mary's will have 7 guys in their team

Augsburg will get last and have 6 guys on the roster

Biggest sleeper teams are SJU, Hamline, and GAC. Some say that SJU and GAC lost their top runners but I just got a feeling they will still be top 5 even though they lost their top dogs. Hamline will have a few returners that will be good enough to be in top 5. Top 2 are obvious though.

I'd agree with this, but not because either team has a secret stash of talent or anything. The other teams in the conference just aren't good enough to beat them, even when they do lose runners like that.

Plus, while everyone is hopping on Carleton's bandwagon recruiting class, Gustavus arguably is, allegedly, a close second in terms of talent acquired.

The season starts in a few weeks! But the results will be obvious for the top 2 teams. 3rd is up for grabs. It's going to be a dog fight for places 3-7. The point spread will be very close. Closer than most/past years.

I heard a rumor that Oles walk during their summer runs. Anyone care to shed some light on this?

Oles walk? Of course, they walk all summer and do no workouts or mileage. If you're actually serious, no, not true at all...

I've heard that the oles fail to get any elevation gain in there runs. So, that's basically like walking.

If the walking thing is true, maybe the oles are slacking because they're sure they'll win conference. Kinda representative of the MIAC's decline in recent years

#1 Ole fan wrote:

I heard a rumor that Oles walk during their summer runs. Anyone care to shed some light on this?

Summer of MoMo guys. The sooner you figure it out the sooner you can run with the big dogs. I'm talking TOP FIFTY at conference. But go ahead, waste all your running energy in the summer while I build up 3 months of stored energy to unleash at MIAC.