Who do you think will have the best CA JUCO Cross team this season?

Actually Riverside had numerous Kenyans, especially when Coach Banks was there. One year, I believe it was in the early 90's, they went 1-2-3-4 at the State Championships, they were all Kenyans. Later they had the Kenyan who became the Olympic Gold Medalist in the steeplechase. That "pretty good" miler that they were referring to down below, was an Algerian named Noredine Morceli, who happened to be the world record holder in the mile and was also a world champion and Olympic Gold Medalist.

The 1-2-3-4 in the early 90's for Riverside was one Tanzania, one Morroccan, one Ethiopian and one American. No Kenyans.

I've heard that Noureddine's older brother Abderrahmane Morceli who coached Noureddine is now living in Riverside. I wonder if he's helping out?

Glendale Community College in Arizona. They had a great class, and their early workouts are VERY inspiring. Look out for them.

Julius Kariyuki of Kenya ran for Riverside in 1987-88 just prior to winning steeple gold in Seoul.

Abderrahmane Morceli who was indeed his brother's coach is helping out here with the program. His insight has been great.

Coach Mike Barbee - RCC Women's Head Cross Country Coach

Please, pipe down about this pathetic team and program. Take it from me, I have toiled for too many years, so many miles, so many intervals, I believe I know what it takes to be a champion. This team just doesn't have the leadership to even be considered for anything other than a laugh-fest.

If you are wagering man, save your money!

Peter

=Who do you think will have the best CA JUCO Cross team this season?=

this is the question that's keeping me up all night

Nourredine Morceli- went on to set the world record in the mile and 1500m.....

Actually they were Tanzanians.......just accuracy for the record.

OXNARD

It is too bad that there is not a junior college national invite for cross...that way teams from CA and the Northwest could race against the rest of the JUCO teams, since there is only a national championship for JUCO schools.

Men -

Team:

Mt. SAC, Oxnard, Orange Coast, Glendale, American River, San Bernardino Valley, LA Trade Tech will all be tough.

Individual:

Acosta (OCC), Arredondo (OXN), Wagnew (SWN)

Women -

Team:

Orange Coast, Mt. SAC, Southwestern, El Camino, Cerritos, and Riverside should battle each other all season.

Individual:

Santana (OCC), Grimes (BAK), Follosco (CER), Hoppe (SHASTA)

These are primarily based on last year's runners that will be returning. This level has HUGE freshman impact of course.

Men: Have heard from coaches that these so Cal schools will be fighting each other- Orange Coast, Mt. SAC, Oxnard, Glendale, El Camino, Southwestern, and LA Trade Tech...maybe Pasadena (heard), Bakersfield (heard), any others???

Women: we'll see........

Heard some rumors that Oxnard has another fine 1-2-3 punch under their belt for '05. May not be as fast as last year's OC leaders, but I'm eager to see what they got. Heard majority of their incoming freshman were all sub 16s in high school...not bad for Oxnard who is one of the smallest schools in the state for a JC.

looks like some solid front-running teams have emerged after this past weekend....

.

OCC Men have to be an overwhelming favorite with all runners in same race. Fitzpatricks look to be 3,4 Acosta and Neems 1,2 and have a couple sub 4:18 milers to choose from for 5th runner! Oxnard, Glendale, El Camino, Trade Tech. Mt. SAC and American River have teams that could mix it up anywhere from 2nd to 8th.

OCC Women have won first two races, though not too far away from Riverside CC in each. Cerritos was a distant 3rd at So Cal and Southwestern and Mt. SAC were tight up in Fresno. Golden West Invite and Orange Coast Invite this weekend should shed some more light on the subject.