NC State Woman’s XC rebuild

Is there a reason this post has not been deleted yet?

NC received their 3rd verbal commitment for 2025, Alexa Dow … the #1 800/1500m U18 runner in Canada.

So far, that’s Jazwinski/Engelhardt/Dow … a helluva class incoming.

Has nc state proven to develop 800/1500 runners? Seems weird all these girls who are not xc/distance focused are committing there.

Well, Tuohy broke the NCAA indoor mile record in 2023 with her 4:24.2.

Sam Bush got to 2:05 from basically 2:11 in hs I think. Not sure they've brought in anyone with the real otential to run 2:00 before. A lot of girls seem to be seeing the success of the team, and getting attracted to the atmosphere of the program I think. They are attracting runners with wider range for sure.

4:33 in HS. Not very good development.

2:10 in HS to 2:06 in college. NC Stte doen't develop middle distance runners. They develop XC runners.

to be fair i think thats intentional. These recruits aren't stupid, they know to look at results and see what NC state has had success in and what they haven't. I can't imagine someone like Engelhardt would go to a traditionally XC dominated program without discussing what her training would look like

My sense is they want a well rounded distance program focusing on not just XC. If so, they need to hire a middle distance assistant to help an incredible incoming class of 2025. As for the rebuild, it’ll be a 3 year rebuild even with the emergence of Hartman as a potential lowstick.

I agree thats probably what they are going for. I dont think henes is a great middle distance coach but she's had success with athletes in the past. I just think they kind of went all in on XC while Tuohy and Chmiel were on the roster and thats why it feels like the focus is shifting back to a better balance now.

Kenyatta Iveybele was a 2:14 800 runner in HS and ran a 2:02 in college under Henes. Megan Moye qualified for nationals in the 1500/mile multiple times and was an all american in the mile indoors under Henes. Anna Vess was a 4:58 1600 runner in high school and ran a 4:12 1500 under Henes.

Whether she can find that touch again I dont know but she sold these athletes that she could. I think watching how Napoleon and Putman run next indoor season will be a big marker for the program. I dont judge kids too harshly on freshman seasons it can be a difficult adaptation to a new environment and new training. But i want to see real improvement in their sophomore years.

None of these recruits coming in view themselves as 800/milers, they are all solid xc runners, who want to be part of an xc/distance program. They just happen to also be quick in mid distance.

Henes has the kids run a lot of mile/800 in their first year on the track, and they have had some fun with dmr, 4xmile etc in the Henes/Chmiel/Tuohy era, but I don't think there is any master plan in place to be better at mid distance.

You are out of your mind if you dont think Engelhardt views herself as a miler

I think Michalak is a perfect example of your point ( and to some degree engelhardt). She is a XC runner (2nd at NXN) but is also a 4:40 miler. Henes could develop both skills (similar to Olivia Markezich who is a miler and a great XC runner.) Alexa Dow on the other hand is a great miler and subpar XC runner (5k PR of 17:23). My sense is Henes is shifting to “dual-threat qb” type runners (pardon the football analogy).

Not really 😁, if Engelhardt had never run 1 high school mile, she still would be the #2 xc/distance recruit in class of '25 (behind Hedengren) with her 9:50 and xc performance in California State meets and at Woodbridge.

If she viewed herself as a miler, she would not have picked nc st, since as other posters have pointed out, nc st does not really develop milers. Touhy was an accidental miler, and I believe the only pack runner to ever score in mile/1500 at NCAA.

Engelhardt will run the mile at state, we'll see how fast. Just as important, she'll happily do xc, and run 3000 and 5000.

Sadie and team aren't stupid, they know exactly what they signed up for.

I'm not sure why you are bringing up XC as that has nothing to do with what she will run on the track. Maia Ramsden was 10th in XC and hasn't run higher than a 3k since. Billah Jipkirui was 7th in XC and hasn't run anything higher than 3k since. Milers can still be good at cross on the womens side since its only 6k.

I have no doubts she'll run some 3k's thats a translatable skill from her best event. But over the last 4 track seasons of her high school career she has run exactly one track race longer than a mile. She's run more 400's during those seasons than she has 3200's and she has run just as many 200's. I dont see how you can look at her resume and read the tea leaves that she doesn't view herself as a miler. I mean this weekend she is going to the premier 3200 event in the country and still elects to run the mile.

NCSU has traditionally had a good women's xc program. As head coach of women's track and field she only had to be true to that tradition and produce on the xc side which she had done. Henes was promoted last year to director of t&f and xc so she now runs the entire show and has to produce results in other areas. She's probably be recruiting heavily on the men's side too.

Sadie runs 1600 at Arcadia as she is 2time defending champ. Hopes for 3 and next year 4peat. Will run 3200/2mile in other big meets.

I brought up xc, because xc is the calling card for Henes and NC State and historically they tend to underperform in track. With the recent championships Henes' job is untouchable, so they can continue focus on xc.

The other poster brought up a good point, however, that Henes is now head of all men's and women's xc/track and may be motivated to improve track performance.

Considering NC State got Engelhardt, Henes’s recruiting skills are still going strong

In this portal era, you can't predict how long it will take ANY top tier program to be a podium or title contender. All it would take is for NC State to land 1 or 2 big recruits in the portal in this offseason (eg, Amina Maatoug), and they would be a legitimate title contender for fall 2024. Look at how NAU women's team skyrocketed to a title contender over the last few years with a bunch of portal transfers.

As for those on NC State's roster right now, it's not only Hartman who is rapidly progressing and looking like a potential low stick for fall 2024. Leah Stephens is in that category as well. R-Fr Hannah Gapes is also making big strides in this outdoor season and could be an AA threat for 2024 XC season. And as already discussed, incomers Fiona Smith and Bethany Michalak could be potential AA for XC in 2024.