Will NAU 3-peat or will they suffer an epic collapse like Henry Rono in 1978? Or The Wisco Dream Team in 04? Or Simpson 09?

Predictions:

#2 BYU

#3 NAZ

Its doubtful that the entire NAU team will take a wrong turn.

The NAU Team tend to run together as pack so it is possible the entire team takes a wrong turn and miss the national title.

NAU for the win

BUY distance 2nd

Wisconsin then Portland

I predict either NAU or Wisconsin for the win. I don't know which one but if Wisconsin doesn't win, they could also finish 5th versus NAU which would finish 2nd to WI for the win.

I'm most interested in Syracuse. A lot of pressure on Bell not to fall back into the 14th-15th range that Syracuse had been stuck at for so long.

It’s going to be too cold for them.

Correct me if I’m wrong .. Rono, yes, tired from his 1978 record breaking campaign...the real deal reason he performed so poorly at ncaa cc was he went off course up to 200m before he rejoined the field ..by then it was not possible to compete for the victory..so he shut it down.

1) NAU's to lose; Not gonna happen this year!

2) Paper - Wisco

3) Scissor - Portland

4)Rocks - BYU or Stanford

1. BYU

2. NAU

3+ no one cares

You heard it here first.

If anyone is going to beat NAU this year it is going to be Portland. BYU is going to run horribly at NCAAs like they always do. Wisconsin has an amazing #1 in Morgan McDonald but there is a drop off to their #2 in Oliver Hoare (who seems more like a track guy), their number #3 guy came in 19th at Big 10s and Nuttycomybe, their #4 guy did come in 4th at Big 10s but finished 46th at Nuttycomybe so hes a wildcard. Portland has a stud in Nick Hauger, several of guys debuted at the West regional last week and they still have some guys who havent run yet ( looking at Gabe Arias-Sheridan who was 47th at NCAA 16). Rob Connor has proved that he knows how and when to peak guys and assuming that no one is injured on their roster, I think that theyre the only team that could beat NAU if NAU has an really off day (which I doubt they will).

My predictions:

1. NAU

2. Portland

3. BYU or Stanford

Wisconsin is not finishing in the top 10

McDonald could be 1, Hoare 7, and Hacker 15. They could win.

Too bad they score 5 runners eh?!

I don't think them losing would be a collapse - more like the year Syracuse won their title over all of those returners from the champion Colorado team.

I agree that NAU should win unless they all get food poisoning - and then next year we watch them reload with Brodey Hasty and other kick-a$$ recruits (they are recruiting really well this year). I can see a 3-peat and a 4-peat.

Regarding the rest of the field - if everyone from all the teams has their 'A' game, then I also think Portland takes 2nd, closely followed by BYU and Stanford.

I think the overall race depends on Blaise Ferro (sorry to pressure on you!). If we see Blaise finishing in the top 10 or top 15 then this race is all NAU. However, if we see Blaise drifting back in the 30-40 range, then we have a potential upset. Since I'm from NJ and have seen Blaise destroy - I fully expect him to have his 'A' game and finish in the top 20, if not the top 10.

You're not wrong but Wisconsin won't be 10th short of having an absolutely horrendous day.

Disagreeable wrote:

McDonald could be 1, Hoare 7, and Hacker 15. They could win.

I agree that McDonald could win it all but I dont think that Hoare or Hacker could finish that high. Hoare has had a good xc season but he hasnt done anything to prove he can run with the top guys in the NCAA. He finished high at Big 10s and at regionals but Neither of those races had any big studs (besides McDonald). His only race against top NCAA comp was at Nuttycombe in which he got destroyed the last 2k of the race (granted that was back in September). The same goes for Hacker, he has had a good season but hasnt showed that he can run at that level. Honestly I just feel as if Wisconsin is just built around the hype of hosting the meet and running at it after missing it last year.

I from the Northeast and completely forgot about Blaise Ferro until Nuttycombe this year. He ran an amazing race and I hope he has a solid race at NCAAs. I think he he’ll 30-40s but its considering that he might not even be NAUs 5th man.

Let's face it, the only team that could dethrone NAU is Donald J Trump by keeping damm foreigners out

I have a friend who was at the 78 championships. Twenty minutes before the race he saw Rono eating breakfast in the clubhouse. It is obvious that the snow covered course and freezing cold meant Rono would not be running for the title so he threw in the towel. Btw, Rono did have an iffy fall with losses here and there to Salazar and others. The previous spring and summer was groundbreaking and exhausting. His coach should have sat him for a month or two but did not....