D3 XC Individual Contenders

I didn't know times mattered in XC when everyone is racing the same course at the same time in the same conditions?

Yes, we read letsrun. That probably comes across as fairly evident reading most of the interviews we've done so far. As far as the Sigl/Hany photo, it was picked out as one of the photos to be featured in the interview before Hany filled out his interview; it wasn't meant to fuel any debate on letsrun, or on the comments to Hany's interview. Good luck to everyone this weekend!

Trackshark DIII Blog Webmasters.

well some people handle certain conditions differently...

I'm going with:

sigl

erichson

kosegie

hany

I sure hope this race lives up to the hype...

If I were betting I would go with Kosgei, but I am conflicted. There are quite a few parallels between this year and 2005. Sigl is a lot like Neal Holtschulte in that he has a lot of experience at the highest level of Div III but has yet to win the big one in XC. Kosgei is the relative newcomer, but the bigger talent, much like Yout two years ago. He won the NCAA steeple title last spring; Yout was 2nd in XC as a freshman and earned a few other AA's in track (2nd to Moen in the 5k and 10k 2005).

There is also the obvious similarity that both Yout and Kosgei were born in East Africa.

Being from New England and familiar with Holtschulte, I thought he would win it all in 2005. As a result I understand where the Midwest guys are coming from that have been watching Sigl for the past four years, especially his dominance this season.

However, having seen Kosgei in person a few times it is difficult for me to imagine him being defeated on Saturday. He has all the tools: fast 800 speed, toughness of a steepler, and excellent race instincts.

For people who do enjoy gambling, here are the official odds:

Kosgei 1:2

Sigl 2:1

the field 3:1

Abdallah no chance:1

non sequiter wrote:

Sigl sounds like a class act although he did fail to identify "the Greenville guy". y'all need to ease up on Hany. Interesting choice for the headline picture, maybe the trackshark guys have been reading letsrun?

Mull gets no respect, but he has really proven himself to be in the list of top d3 runners. Sigl didn't even know what school he was from.

i agree..he will be top 7 this weekend

I wonder how many people of you guys have seen Kosgei run. We'll see

This post has no bearing on my individual feelings for Hany because I don't know him. But I am almost positive that he will not be in the top 5 at NCAA, I don't think he is that caliber of a racer. My order for top 5

Kosgei

Sigl

Erichson

Butzler

Mull

Giddy wrote:

When was running 25:25 considered being that great.

It's a solid early year time, but deserving of being considered a favorite for a national title...please.

I'm going with Butzler or Seigl.

Erichsen not a title contender? Man don't you look silly.

You might want to look back at when that post you replied to was written- I doubt many people would have considered Erichsen a contender at the beginning of September after how he finished in XC last Fall. I think now though, most people would consider him a contender for the top 5 at least.

No way I was unaware that he posted two months ago? How about even more recently than XC last fall was Erichsen's performances in track this past season. Track doesn't correlate with XC, you say? Well if you look at most of the best 5k and 10k guys in track and then look at the best guys in XC, it seems to me that the names at the top of each list are pretty simliar. I realized he was a national title contender this September- I have ran on that stupid St. Johns invite course before- and so 25:25 is a terrific time for a course that ridiculous.

All I'm saying is that I wouldn't have called him a contender in Sept. after his 25:25. I would have said he was all-american material after track and that cross race, but he hadn't done anything yet to tell me he was contender material, especially looking at his '06 season. Thats all. Also- I was saying that I doubt anyone would argue that he's a contender now.

Looking at the field, it seems as though are three tears of runners. I think there are three guys that can win the race. I am not saying they will go 1,2,3. But, I do not see anyone besides these three winning. Sure, some other guy might get 2nd, but the winner be in the top tier. Here are my choices.

1. Kosgei - Hamilton

2. Erichsen - St. John's

3. Sigl - Plateville

4. Chaves - Occidental

5. Mull - Wheaton

6. Kosgey - Williams

7. Place - Allegheny

8. Boggs - Colorado College

9. Dubois - Cortland

10. Abdallah - NYU

11. Williams - NYU

12. Christiansen - Calvin

13. Busche - Luther

14. Harvey -Carnegie Mellon

15. Ramsey-North - Haverford

16. Grant - Loras

17. Butzler - Whitewater

18. Zdroik - Lacrosse

19. Schnieder - NYU

20. Hulst - Calvin

21. Ramon - Occidental

22. Dunker - Nebraska Wesleyan

23. Gries - Calvin

24. Nally - Cortland

25. Donohoe - St. Lawrence

26. Batch - Willamette

27. Nichols - Colorado College

28. Hudson - Anderson

29. Krah - Bowdoin

30. Letts - Haverford

31. Moran - Lacrosse

32. Towle - Steven's Point

33. Guerriero - TCNJ

34. McCarl - Chicago

35. Greeno - Bethel

You left out a couple of returning All-Americans from last year who are running quite well this year. You left off Kelly Fermoyle from St. Johns, who has been running a solid season behind Erichsen and finished 28th last year. You also left off Erik VanKampen from Calvin, who was 17th last year, and just finished 6th in the great lakes region. I think you are under-rating a few guys as well. First, Chris Dunker finished 15th last year, and seems to be running fairly well- don't know that he'll run as well this year, but I would at least put him in the second group, rather than the third. Jon Gries from Calvin is also running very well, and finished 12th last year- he should definitely be in the second group as well.

jordahl will be tough and i think zerzan is back after winning last year, right?The girl who was runner up to Zerzan last year got smashed at the mid-east regional by Fisher of Elizabethtown. Maybe she's a contender? they ran at Lehigh which is a pretty fast course, but 21:18 is very good.

spunkitt wrote:

I'd like to discuss the women's race. I think its terrible there are 26 pages of this thread and about 3 posts on the women's race. I realize there aren't as many female posters on letsrun, but come on...the women's race will be a good one too. Any thoughts? From men or women??

stupid list

56u756 wrote:

The girl who was runner up to Zerzan last year got smashed at the mid-east regional by Fisher of Elizabethtown. Maybe she's a contender? they ran at Lehigh which is a pretty fast course, but 21:18 is very good.[quote]spunkitt wrote:

Caitlin Bradley, Dickinson

[quote]56u756 wrote:

jordahl will be tough and i think zerzan is back after winning last year, right?

The girl who was runner up to Zerzan last year got smashed at the mid-east regional by Fisher of Elizabethtown. Maybe she's a contender? they ran at Lehigh which is a pretty fast course, but 21:18 is very good.[quote]spunkitt wrote:

I don't think you can use any placement from last years national meet as a reason...that course was one-of-a-kind to say the least and brought in elements these girls will not and have not faced this year.

Still, I pick Zerzan to take it with jordahl being a close second. Montgomery from geneseo should be up there too--being a national competitor the last few years, but never taking it--she's got to be wanting it pretty bad.

dumb wrote:

stupid list

Actually, i dont think its a dumb list at all. The guy has done his research. Sure, there are guys missing, and others that are overrated, but if figure how hard it is to pick the top 35 finishers, its not far off. Ill go ahead and say 25 of those will be all american.

My suggestion, NYU guys will finish higher, and Kosgei will not win.