Looks like the weather will favor distance events this weekend. That’s a nice change from last year.
My distance only predictions -
800 - Moore, Ihrke, Fells. Ihrke got out too hard this week, but I think he’s learned enough to sit and kick the Oles. He’ll definitely want to win at home. He’ll run 1:50.65
1500- Stencel run away with this in a sub 3:50. If he wants to qualify he’ll really hammer, but he has shown a preference to sit and kick. Gabe finishes second and I think Bullock of the Oles edges Brauer. Hootie could be a surprise here too.
5000 - This all depends on how hard Turlington wants to run after jogging the 10K. I say it’s closer than you think. I actually can’t remember the last time an Ole won or even scored well. I bet he runs 14:35 and Stencel/Gabe battle for second. Any slower and Cole outruns him. His kick is too lethal.
10,000 - Turlington runs one mile hard and then jogs the rest. Roy is the surprising runner up in his final weekend as a Carl follows by Travis Brown. I want to add Goss here, but if I’m him I focus solely on winning the steeple.
Steeple - The Cobbers always run massive steeple PR’s the MIAC champs. I’ll go out on a limb and say he runs 9:05. Torte is second around 9:20 with Deaver hot on his heals. This is a huge event for the Oles if they want to circumvent sprint points from Bethel/St. John’s.
4 x 800 - I think Olaf wins, but I doubt any of their top 800 guys run. It won’t matter. They 1:55 guys you’ve never heard of. St. John’s will place second and Bethel third.
Women -
800- I think Nygaard wins but pulls Slavin and Wyatt to something fast. Wyatt places second. Those two will be fresh and Slavin will have the 1500.
1500 - Slavic runs sub 4:30 and qualified for Nats. Kate Fox of Mac is second with Tittel third.
5000m - Vukovics will take our hard to set the pace, but Liston wins in 17:10. Preissier finished second and Aliya Larsen slips into third.
10,000 - Preissier needs a qualifying time, so she’ll go big here. She wins in 35:24, with Liston right behind her. Larson finishes 3rd.
Steeple - Amelia Campbell runs close to 11:00 and easily wins. I expect the Cobber, Kelyn Henry-Perich to show it in second with Mary Kenny of the Bennies in third.
4 x 800 - Oles without their top two. They appeared to be auditioning legs this weekend. I’ll say Carleton next, barely edging the Cobbers. Nygaard runs 2:09 on the anchor though.