Who Are Your Biggest Positive Surprise at NCAAs?

for a moment, I thought this thread was about PED.

Was really hoping for a big day for Justyn Knight and he did not disappoint. Been following his career since high school (same HS as me but i was there many years before). He's gonna be a contender in the 5000 on the track and next year I think he will be a favourite to win it esp. if Ches is pro.

wejo wrote:

Who do you think were the biggest surprises? Looking at the men:

In the top 10, Pierce Murphy in 3rd was quite a run but I'm voting for Jonathan Green of Gtown in 5th. Ran 4:15, 8:08 and 14:02 last year and now he's 5th at NCAAs? Serioiusly?!

I was impressed with the top three Stanford male runners, Jim Rosa (6th), Sean McGorty (7th) and Grant Fisher(17th). Had Joe Rosa (97th) been back to full strength and able to run with these three teammates today, Stanford would have won.

Fast Cardinals wrote:

I was impressed with the top three Stanford male runners, Jim Rosa (6th), Sean McGorty (7th) and Grant Fisher(17th). Had Joe Rosa (97th) been back to full strength and able to run with these three teammates today, Stanford would have won.

Joe Rosa was in 23rd at the halfway mark. If you plug him into the team scoring right behind Fisher they still lose to Syracuse but beat Colorado by one point.

While I agree a fully healthy Joe running up with McGorty and his bro could have meant the title for Stanford, every team has a scenario like this. Woulda, shoulda, coulda. I can't believe Jim was 6th after his rocky season!

Jack Bruce is an absolute legend. I've heard from his roommate that he lives off Chocolate milk and Honey Nut Cherrios. Go Hogs

Jhjhjhjhhkhk wrote:

Vvgyvgyvgyvyg wrote:

Jack Bruce with PBs of

3:50 (1500m)

4:13 (mile)

8:22 (3000m)

Finished 23rd...

Only Ches and Murphy closed their last 2k faster than him.

In my mind, Jack Bruce is the most unexpected guy to crack the top 25.

What's interesting is that he finished one spot behind Curtin. Curtin is the pre race "favorite" who performed the worse.

Pretty sure that these 2 guys had quite different emotions as they were crossing the finish line together.

Brenna Peloquin - wow! wow! wow!

If Boise can get Bothma healthy for next year, and do some good recruiting, we are looking at a team on the podium.

Sometimes you get kids (probably like Brenna) that blossom in college as soon as they start training at a higher level. I guess chasing Allie at practice the last few months has worked wonders.

Alice Wright was a big surprise for me today. I thought she was probably good for somewhere in the 10-20 place range. She just looked awesome when I saw her go by at about 4K. She was definitely underrated.

UNM has Wright and Auckland returning for a good 1-2 punch next year, but will have to see how Franklin builds around them.

Peloquin. I watched the NXR NW meet last year and she squeaked into NXN after a few girls decided to go to FL, I believe finishing 9th. To be fair, she got out like a banshee in a course covered with mashed-potato snow, but still... top 10 at Nike regionals in 2014, top 10 at NCAA in 2015. That's progress.

Jack Bruce had a lights out race.

1:52/3:50/8:22 and 24:40 last year as a freshman. Transferred to Arkansas and all of a sudden he's an All-American.

How has no one mentioned Thomas Awad making a come back? One of the top Americans.

I am one of UW's most diligent critics, but for the first time EVER, I am impressed with Metcalf's coaching: 2 x 10th is very solid, and exactly what needs to happen to make them a solid contender (they already have had the access to in-state talent). I'm guessing Jason Drake has finally found a good fit in a program.

Obviously, Green was the most dramatic one. Some of the freshmen like Dressel and Fisher did great but not out of line of our expectations. Colorado had some guys not run to their ability but they've had a great run and injuries and illness intervene.

Bosskk wrote:

How has no one mentioned Thomas Awad making a come back? One of the top Americans.

To answer your question, yes he was mentioned. But worth mentioning again.

To a lesser extent than most of the top guys, Darren Fahy of Georgetown had a totally unforeseen, great race. He was the team's 2nd runner today, when all season he has generally been 5th-7th. He ran 30:32 today, running 31:44 last week and 8k SB of 23:20. Id point to him as a big reason for Georgetown's great day today, as well as Green obviously.

I gotta say Jacob Burcham at 16th. No way I saw him as top 20 in cross country, but he seems to be on the right path now.

Syracuse women had the biggest jump, in relation to their ranking, I believe.

dc wonk wrote:

I gotta say Jacob Burcham at 16th. No way I saw him as top 20 in cross country, but he seems to be on the right path now.

Burcham was indeed a surprise this season, but not at NCAA., since his performances earlier in the season indicated that he would do well at NCAA.

He was second at Regionals, just one second behind Scott. Most people had Burcham in the top 25. 16th is a bit higher than most people had him, but not a huge surprise.

In top 25, the biggest surprise were (in order):

Bruce

Lusignan

Kirui

In the top 10, they were (in order):

Murphy

Green

Rosa

The two dudes from Colorado state