Ky Robinson (10th), Thomas Boyden (75th), Cole Sprout (118th), Evan Burke (191st)
Incoming Transfers/Recruits that could contend for top 7
Leo Young (3:55/8:39/14:05), Lex Young (3:59/8:35/13:34 (Track))
Other contenders for top 7 on roster
Robert DiDonato (13:44 outdoors, 34th at XC West Regional in 2022), Nolan Topper (13:54/28:44 outdoors 2022), Zane Bergen (3:43 outdoors)
Tier 2
I didn’t think either of the Young’s had broken 4 yet you have them at 3:55 and 3:59? I don’t consider a fast 1500 to be the same as actually breaking 4 in the mile.
Acer Iverson was injured last year and should be healthy coming into 2023 XC. he was top 10 at both Nuttycombe and Cowboy Jamboree before injury. I could see he and Blanks both in the top 20 or 15 individually. If that happens and the other three (Ewing, Brosnan, Henz) improve they could be a major surprise. Also if Ferenc Kovacs adjusts to NCAA running he could also improve their overall team score.
Harvard Returning top 7 Graham Blanks (6th), Acer Iverson (50th), Joe Ewing (152nd), Shane Brosnan (156th), Vivien Henz (190th), Ben Rosa (251st) Incoming Transfers/Recruits that could contend for top 7 Ferenc Kovacs (3:56/9:07/14:08 (Track))
Will anyone ever beat NAU men’s team at nationals?
like in 2024?
I think that's pretty likely, though it's too soon to say for sure at this point.
In 2024 the Lumberjacks will definitely be out Bosley, Hasty, Las Heras, and Quax (unless I guess they get injured before this season and manage to get a medical redshirt to use their final eligibility in 2024 instead of 2023?)
I think it's more likely than not that Nico goes pro after spring '24, though technically he has the covid eligibility to come back one more time. Nyoak, Prosser, and Gorgas will all have finished four years of school, but I expect them to stay to finish their eligibility. Easton may even be there in fall of 24. Add to those guys C. Sahlman, Grotenhuis, A. Sahlman, Munsen, Washburn, Shively, and some of the younger guys on NAU's roster, plus any other stars they may find to join Shively in the '24 recruiting class.
So, to summarize, in fall of 2024 NAU will need five AA-caliber guys out of C. Sahlman, Prosser, Nyoak, Grotenhuis, Gorgas, A. Sahlman, Munsen, Washburn, Shively, maybe Easton, or another late-developer on their roster in order to win nationals. That's certainly possible, but from this vantage point it looks like they'll have less star power than we're accustomed to seeing from them.
It's too soon to really say, but right now I see Nico and Bosley chasing glory for their final collegiate cross season this fall and then a competitive lull for the Lumberjacks in fall of '24. In any case, I'm a fan of Smith and like watching him put together strong teams year after year.
EKU is a school I’m excited about. They aren’t contending for a national title but are bringing back some studs along with adding a few solid recruits. Some consistency there could make them more than just a steeple school.
only graduated Jaziri who had an okay cross season before going pro and bringing back their whole top 7 of a young group plus adding a 13:40 freshman from Morocco and a boise transfer who’s run 28:5x along with another British steepler/XC guy they could have a ton of depth if healthy
Acer Iverson was injured last year and should be healthy coming into 2023 XC. he was top 10 at both Nuttycombe and Cowboy Jamboree before injury. I could see he and Blanks both in the top 20 or 15 individually. If that happens and the other three (Ewing, Brosnan, Henz) improve they could be a major surprise. Also if Ferenc Kovacs adjusts to NCAA running he could also improve their overall team score.
Harvard Returning top 7 Graham Blanks (6th), Acer Iverson (50th), Joe Ewing (152nd), Shane Brosnan (156th), Vivien Henz (190th), Ben Rosa (251st) Incoming Transfers/Recruits that could contend for top 7 Ferenc Kovacs (3:56/9:07/14:08 (Track))
I predict that NAU will spend 50 million more dollars on training equipment, get a bunch of top recruits, and act like the underdogs when they 4-peat
I wonder how their new recruit Aaron Sahlman will do
Aaron most likely won’t crack NAU’s top 7 this season, or possibly any season. He’s a middle distance specialist, after all. But I’d like to think he’ll enjoy a hugely successful 4 years on the track at NAU. But thinking back to NXN last XC season I doubt anyone suspected he would win. Except him.
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