I don't think Christian Allen is running in the NCAA anymore. He has a public Instagram account on which he posted a list of trail/mountain races he intends to run this fall.
Even so, BYU should have a really strong team. It will certainly be interesting to see if Rooks goes back to BYU in the fall (with an NIL deal?) or if he goes pro. On TFRRS it looks like 2022 was his only cross country season, but he graduated from high school in 2018. Minus two years on a mission, it's likely that he needs one more year of school to finish his degree.
I don't think Christian Allen is running in the NCAA anymore. He has a public Instagram account on which he posted a list of trail/mountain races he intends to run this fall.
Even so, BYU should have a really strong team. It will certainly be interesting to see if Rooks goes back to BYU in the fall (with an NIL deal?) or if he goes pro. On TFRRS it looks like 2022 was his only cross country season, but he graduated from high school in 2018. Minus two years on a mission, it's likely that he needs one more year of school to finish his degree.
I hope Rooks goes back for xc (NIL deal like you mentioned) and then he goes pro after that and gets ready for Olympic trials.
NAU is in a bit of a strange spot (given their altitude and emphasis on aerobic strength) that the back end of their top 7 is largely unproven at the 10k distance. After Young, Bosley & Prosser, they need some combination of Quax, the Sahlmans, Nyoak, maybe Puffer or Grotenhuis? Can they get 2 all-americans out of that group?
Forgot the transfer from Wake Forest who finished 26th last year who has run just a bit over 28 mins for 10k on the track. Their top three is very tough and with Prosser 19th last year just need to find a solid fifth out if 7-8 possibles and they could very easily the team to beat again.
Las Heras from Wake Forest is a massive pickup for NAU, replacing the always dependable Brodey Hasty.
if they can stay healthy Nico Young, Drew Bosley are Top 3 calibur. Now that Charles Hicks is gone Nico might finally get that elusive XC individual championship.
Santiago Proser is a bit of a question mark for me. He overperformed at the 2022 XC Championship but hasn't done much since. Can't tell if it was a fluke or if he's for real.
As for NAU's 5th guy. Colin Sahlman had a so-so 2022 XC season but kept getting better and better thru indoor and outdoor season. if he continues to progress he might step up big time come XC season. how he performs at Nuttycombe will be a great indicator.
they also have Theo Quax, who's had bad luck with injuries over the years, would love to see him stay healthy and contribute for XC season.
Aaron Sahlman, Aidan Puffer, Kang Nyoak, Cael Grotenhuis, and Erik Le Roux are also names you might see on the travel squad.
2023 guesses for top teams grouped by tiers. They are roughly in order of predicted finish but i was thinking more of the tiers than the order of finish when making this, though NAU is the heavy favorite for me. Should be noted that i have no idea what i'm talking about.
I honestly have no idea what to do with Tulsa. They historically seem to always find guys but they only have one guy returning who finished in the top 200 last year from what i see.
Tier 1
NAU
Returning top 7
Nico Young (2nd), Drew Bosley (3rd), Santiago Prosser (19th), Colin Sahlman (151st)
Incoming Transfers/Recruits that could contend for top 7
Incoming Transfers/Recruits that could contend for top 7
probably too deep for anyone to break in this year
Other contenders for top 7 on roster
Kenneth Rooks (8:16 3k steeple outdoors, 22nd at XC Mountain Regional in 2022), James Corrigan (13:40 outdoors), Jacob Stanford (13:56, 28:45 outdoors), Lucas Bons (13:58 outdoors)
Oklahoma St
Returning Top 7
Alex Maier (5th), Fouad Messaoudi (12th), Victor Shtsama (31st), Ryan Schoppe (53rd), Will Muirhead (140th)
Incoming Transfers/Recruits that could contend for top 7
Adisu Goade (13:49)
Other contenders for top 7 on roster
Alex Stitt (3:40 outdoors, 16th at XC Midwest Regional in 2022), Jonas Price (8:46 3k steepel outdoors, 17th at XC Midwest Regional in 2022), Christopher Middleton-Pearson (3:40/13:54 outdoors), Isaiah Priddey (7:50 3k indoors, 3:42 outdoors)
Stanford
Returning top 7
Ky Robinson (10th), Thomas Boyden (75th), Cole Sprout (118th), Evan Burke (191st)
Incoming Transfers/Recruits that could contend for top 7
Leo Young (3:55/8:39/14:05), Lex Young (3:59/8:35/13:34 (Track))
Other contenders for top 7 on roster
Robert DiDonato (13:44 outdoors, 34th at XC West Regional in 2022), Nolan Topper (13:54/28:44 outdoors 2022), Zane Bergen (3:43 outdoors)
Tier 2
Wisconsin
Returning top 7
Jackson Sharp (16th), Bob Liking (34th), Rowan Ellenberg (45th), Evan Bishop (83rd), Adam Spencer (188th)
Incoming Transfers/Recruits that could contend for top 7
Joe dosreis (3:40 outdoors), Christian De Vaal (8:45/14:03)
Other contenders for top 7 on roster
Logan Measner (8:41 3k steeple outdoors), Micah Wilson (13:56/29:13 outdoors)
Tier 3
UNC
Returning top 7
Parker Wolfe (9th), Ethan Strand (62nd), Will Coogan (106th), Patrick Anderson (113th), Marshall Williamson (135th)
Incoming Transfers/Recruits that could contend for top 7
Central Michigan has a couple guys that should get under 29 minutes in the 8k. With improvement, everyone in the top 5 will go sub-30. Could maybe be in the running for a top 20 finish if they competed in the women's championship.
Nice list! Couple corrections: Jackson Shorten goes to Princeton, not Harvard. Brodey Hasty will also be returning to NAU for a 6th year. Also, I would say that Benne Anderson (8:40 3200, 4:01 1600) from Michigan will be a contender for Syracuses top 7 but that’s personal opinion.
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