HEPS XC 2013 OFFICIAL THREAD

Men:

1-Princeton: How can you bet against them? Top 10 at natty's....

2-Columbia: They will be better than people think....ranked 25th but have the potential to finish top 20 at natty's, assuming they can make it out of the Northeast regional

3-Dartmouth: If Bleday is healthy, they have incredibly depth and can potentially get a bid to Nationals

4-Harvard: Known to choke when it counts, it's up to Korolev and Leakos...if both run to their potential, Harvard can beat out Dartmouth for 3rd at Heps, and get an at-bid to Nationals

5-Yale: Up and coming, but just not enough there to track the top 4.

6-Cornell: Most likely a re-building year for the Big Red--that being said they have 3 guys who can all run in the top 10-15 at Heps

7-Penn: Some promise with Awad and potentially Paez returning, but not nearly enough depth to contend with the above teams

8-Brown: Losing Berg and Cooper will hurt...maybe some guy will surprise but expect to see them at the bottom this time around.

C/M Runner wrote:

Cornell women announce their incoming class:

http://www.cornellbigred.com/news/2013/7/30/WXC_0730134831.aspx

Thanks for the link, C/M.

Taylor Spillane is about the only "national" name that strikes my eye, but I see that they have two other rookies who've run low-10s for 3000m (=

Wow, that was weird--only part of the post posted? Let's try again, with a slight edit.

C/M Runner wrote:

Cornell women announce their incoming class:

http://www.cornellbigred.com/news/2013/7/30/WXC_0730134831.aspx

Thanks for the link, C/M.

Taylor Spillane is about the only "national" name that strikes my eye, but I see that they have two other rookies who've run low-10s for 3000m (worth sub-11:00/3200). Not big numbers at the xc end of things, but they return a very solid crew (cracking their top five would be tough) and have a huge squad anyway, so probably focused on quality, not quantity, in distance runners this year.

For t&f, it does seem that they addressed some of their thin spots in the lineup, with a couple of good throwers, decent TJ talent, a competitive short sprinter, and a bunch of ~2:14 800 types.

No word from the Big Red men so far, I see. I suspect their coach is at Worlds, so I'd be surprised to see an announcement before he returns.

Bleday is indeed healthy, I can say with certainty. Dartmouth will be a force this year, 3rd possibly second.

Blue Goose wrote:

The Wood Report has Columbia projected to finish #25 at NCAAs.

"But do not doubt these Lions, they are re-loaded and very dangerous."

http://thewoodrunningreport.blogspot.com/2013/07/ncaa-xc-top-31-countdown-mens-25.html

And puts the Crimson women at #29:

C/M Runner wrote:

Cornell women announce their incoming class:

http://www.cornellbigred.com/news/2013/7/30/WXC_0730134831.aspx

Not a bad class at all but not as spectacular as some were saying a few months back. Maybe a couple got late scholarship offers?

Now people have been saying *great* things about the Cornell men's recruits. We'll see what the official announcement has to say though.

It doesn't seem to matter much anyway. A couple years back the Cornell women had a tremendous recruiting group but so far those folks (they'd be juniors this fall) don't seem to have contributed that much. And RoJo had a crazy recruiting class (graduated this spring) that was "meh" at best. So who really knows.

Ivyguy wrote:

Thanks for the link, C/M.

Taylor Spillane is about the only "national" name that strikes my eye, but I see that they have two other rookies who've run low-10s for 3000m (worth sub-11:00/3200). Not big numbers at the xc end of things, but they return a very solid crew (cracking their top five would be tough) and have a huge squad anyway, so probably focused on quality, not quantity, in distance runners this year.

For t&f, it does seem that they addressed some of their thin spots in the lineup, with a couple of good throwers, decent TJ talent, a competitive short sprinter, and a bunch of ~2:14 800 types.

This is the XC thread. Notwithstanding that this is a T&F announcement, I think the Big Red Machine (forgive the borrowed moniker) has substantially added to their XC depth. Don't be surprised if Spillane cracks the top five and scores regularly. Montague too! She may lack leg speed but she did run a 10:09 3K in the State Champs. Add in Bideaux and Cleaveland and you got a solid class. Moreover, I think what distinguishes this group is they are all solid experienced runners who have not squandered their emotional capital in high school. They will all benefit from the step-up in training and coaching on that wonderful terrain high above Cayuga's waters.

Rustamon wrote:

I think the Big Red Machine (forgive the borrowed moniker) has substantially added to their XC depth. Don't be surprised if Spillane cracks the top five and scores regularly. Montague too! She may lack leg speed but she did run a 10:09 3K in the State Champs. Add in Bideaux and Cleaveland and you got a solid class.

In terms of *effective* depth--runners who can score in coming falls--you may well be right. (I know you follow Upstate NY more than I do; I'm more Jersey/NYC/LI/CT, and more males than females.)

Anyway, Cornell returns eight of the dozen women who ran Heps last fall (all finishing in the top half, which I don't think had been done before), so despite their major graduation losses it's not like they needed to bring in an army of recruits this year. And their preliminary roster still has almost 50(!), I see:

Columbia women recruit announcement:

http://www.gocolumbialions.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=48365&SPID=4657&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=208786460&DB_OEM_ID=9600

First glance impression - wow, that is a lot of distance girls.

C/M Runner wrote:

Columbia women recruit announcement:

http://www.gocolumbialions.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=48365&SPID=4657&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=208786460&DB_OEM_ID=9600

First glance impression - wow, that is a lot of distance girls.

Probably a better class than Cornell, certainly a greater number of potential contributors. Kamrani is the cream of the crop; she ran 7th (unattached) at NXN SE Regional in 2012. Firl and Segal are from great programs with Segal a very solid 4:51 1600K. Pierce's 5:01 at Loucks this year probably tipped the tables for her. Siler, Tuttle and Rustami are all solid but unlikely to score for the Lions in the first two years. Burke is listed as a distance runner but has her best performances at 1K and 400M (58.6) so she will be interesting to watch. Roar Lion Roar!

Rustamon wrote:

Probably a better class than Cornell, certainly a greater number of potential contributors.

This seems fair. Lots of strength in that class, in lots of areas, notably jumps and distance. Solid help in both cross and track--they should continue to contend for Heps t&f titles (especially indoors?) and seem not more than a year away (if that!) from contending for cross country trophies.

Rustamon wrote:

Probably a better class than Cornell, certainly a greater number of potential contributors. Kamrani is the cream of the crop; she ran 7th (unattached) at NXN SE Regional in 2012. Firl and Segal are from great programs with Segal a very solid 4:51 1600K. Pierce's 5:01 at Loucks this year probably tipped the tables for her. Siler, Tuttle and Rustami are all solid but unlikely to score for the Lions in the first two years. Burke is listed as a distance runner but has her best performances at 1K and 400M (58.6) so she will be interesting to watch. Roar Lion Roar!

Doesn't Segal have better HS credentials than Kamrani with a 4:51/10:25 double at the CA state meet plus being CA D3 XC state champ and FL (2011) and NXN (2012) finalist? I'm not knocking Kamrani just saying on paper Segal looks like the top recruit. Go Lions!

First glance impression - wow, that is a lot of distance girls.[/quote]

Probably a better class than Cornell, certainly a greater number of potential contributors. ![/quote]

Given that 3 of their top 4 graduated from the Heps squad last fall and 5 of 7, they NEED the help and this new group does address that need.

With a healthy Waverly Neer and a couple others (Williams, Mantilla) that had solid track seasons, they should be improved if these newcomers can hold their own. (To me, the best one is Segal...10:25 3200 is very good). It is always interesting when schools like Columbia, Harvard, Princeton and Cornell bring in large classes in one event area...will all these runners stick with it? I'd say Cornell and Columbia do the best in this regard.

It was weird to see Columbia finish so far down last fall (6th?...very uncharacteristic) and I agree with the other poster that they'll be back in the hunt this year.

C/M Runner wrote:

Columbia women recruit announcement:

http://www.gocolumbialions.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=48365&SPID=4657&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=208786460&DB_OEM_ID=9600

First glance impression - wow, that is a lot of distance girls.

Wow, that is a lot of talent, period! I see that my hometown Lions have done another bang-up job of recruiting. Very impressive.

Also, people should remember that this spring the Columbia women were leading the *outdoor* Heps with just a couple events remaining. Seems unlikely that Cornell will pile up 60+ points in the distances again, and they graduated their top thrower, though the Big Red women do seem to have a habit of Finding A Way. The women's meets should continue to be closely contested.

For the men, on the other hand...we haven't seen all the recruiting classes yet, but it looks like another year of dual meets: Columbia and Princeton in cross country, and Princeton and Cornell in track and field. Cornell will probably be Columbia's biggest (distance) fans in track.

There are a few mid-distance/distance runners here, but the big news for Cornell is the overall recruiting class for men's track...wow!

I know this is a HEPS xc thread, but wow. Discuss:

http://cornellbigred.com/news/2013/8/2/MXC_0802134257.aspx

ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell men's track and field and cross country programs will welcome 26 newcomers for the upcoming 2013-14 season it was announced today by head coach Nathan Taylor.

Tobenna Attah, Irving H.S., Irving, Texas – 400m (48.85), Triple Jump (47-2)

Matt Casbarro, Bishop Henricken H.S., Providence, R.I. – Hammer (179-7) US#23

Wynn Curtis, Corning/Painted Post H.S., Corning, N.Y. – 400IH (53.76) US#16, 110HH (14.61)

John Enkler, Our Lady of Lourdes, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. – Triple Jump (46-1) Long Jump (22-5)

Adler Faulkner, Acalanes H.S., Acalanes, Calif. - 800m (1:51.87)

Will Gibson, Hopewell Valley. H.S., Hopewell, N.J. – 400 (49.40)

James Gowans, Mexico H.S., Mexico, N.Y. –800m (1:52.93) Mile (4:18i), 2Mile (9:22)

Vince Hartnett, Hunterdon Central H.S., Hunterdon, N.J. – Javelin (168-0)

Cam Hebert, Masconomet H.S., Boxford, Mass. – 400IH (53.73) US#13, 400m (49.47i)

Austin Jamerson, Merrillville H.S., Merrillville, Ind. – 110HH (14.42), High Jump (6-8), Long Jump (23-3)

David Karabinos, Amity H.S., Orange, Conn. –Decathlon (6,167) US #4, Triple Jump (45-7)

Justin Love, Matawan H.S., Matawan , N.J. – High Jump (6-9) #8 US indoor, 110HH (14.49/7.74i), Triple Jump (46-6), 400IH (53.97)

Ryan Lucken, Newton North H.S., Newton Mass. – 300m (34.81) #15 US indoor, 400m (48.85)

Joe Mankovecky, Bishop Watterson, Columbus, Ohio – High Jump (6-10) US#24

Martin Murillo, Timber Creek, HS, Fla. – Hammer (195-4) US#10

Weston Northrop, Big Sky H.S., Billings, Mon. – Triple Jump (46-11), US #30 indoor, Long Jump (22-5)

Jung Soo Park, Newton South H.S., Newton, Mass. – High Hurdles (7.40) #6th US indoor

Robert Plummer, Scarsdale H.S., Scarsdale, N.Y. – Triple Jump (47-8)

Jordan Sherwood, Cameron Heights Secondary, Cambridge, Ontario – 110HH (14.11), 400 (49.48i), 400IH (53.32) Canada #2

Grant Sisserson, Horizon H.S., Scottsdale, Ariz. – Pole Vault (17-0) US#5

Brian Steck, Gill St. Bernards H.S.,Gladstone, N.J. – 800m (1:54), Mile (4:18)

Bryant Stuttle, Dryden H.S., Dryden, N.Y. – Triple Jump (46-2), Long Jump (21-7)

Mark Tedder, Battle Ground H.S, Battle Ground, Wash. – Mile (4:16.01), 2Mile (9:17.08)

David Taylor, Western Albemarle H.S., Charlottesville, Va. – Mile (4:18i), 2Mile (9:17)

Rudy Winkler, Averill Park H.S., Sand Lake, N.Y. – Hammer (260-6) US National Record, Discus (183-4)

Rachid Zidani, Central Regional H.S., Ocean Gate, N.J. – HH (14.49)

Indeed Lagsun, you are correct. Segal's outdoor times (and her ferocious doubles) would have to put her at the top of the class. I was focused more on fall creds over time and was blinded by the forest of Kamrani's accomplishment which obfuscated the towering trees of Segal's outstanding senior year. It will be interesting to watch them race. RLR!

As far as cross country is concerned I only count three or four guys in there. I think they had twice that number of seniors last year and will have the same this year. I know their distance coach is new so maybe he'll have some momentum in his recruiting this coming year. They did bring in some real middle-distance strength I see. But it still looks like a while before they'll contend for cross-country titles.

But with a class like this they may not need much distance help to win Ivy track titles! (I do notice that one guy who'd been on Dyestat doesn't show up here: a 16ft vaulter.) They've got four guys who were top-six in the US in their events! (Obviously Winkler is #1 in his.) They had a couple of holes in their lineup but seem to have filled them with top guys like the three hammer throwers.

It's going to be interesting to see how these guys develop (including the distance runners) but overall this has to rank as one of the best recruiting classes that I've seen from any Ivy in quite a while. As you say: WOW.

Rustamon wrote:

Indeed Lagsun, you are correct. Segal's outdoor times (and her ferocious doubles) would have to put her at the top of the class. I was focused more on fall creds over time and was blinded by the forest of Kamrani's accomplishment which obfuscated the towering trees of Segal's outstanding senior year. It will be interesting to watch them race. RLR!

Yes indeed. My only concern about Segal is the lack of success in recent times from the Columbia women's recruits coming out of California's Southern Section. I hope it's not the case with her.

Princeton is done ...... holy hell!