Jake Riley and Mattie Suver are back to defend their titles but the race includes 1,500/mile stars/former stars German Fernandez, Alan Webb, Shannon Rowbury and Matt Centrowitz. Plus the post-collegiate XC debut of Jordan Hasay. The Hansons-Brooks Original Distance Project are the team favorites.
King is still legendary for his toughness 10+ years after getting out of Cornell and the course was inspired the old-school Jerry Smith. King: “Cross-country (racing) comes from a background of running through plowed fields, going down dirt trails and maybe even hopping over a couple of fences. Somehow we've gotten away from that. It's become more of a grass track meet.”