Big Sky XC 2016

I have also heard that they will be broadcasting the races on Idaho´s Facebook page. It´s too bad it´s being held on a Friday and not a Saturday. I could have gone and watched the races live had they held the meet on a Sat.

Good luck to all the schools and may the best runners win!

Estimating by pulling things into the Santa Clara meet since we had a good sample at that meet from the conference in the women's race:

1 -NAU- 20.45

2 -Weber- 20.45

3 -Idaho- 20.55

4 -SUU- 21.01

5 -EWU- 21.14

6 -Montana-21.39

7 -Mont St- 21.4

8 -PDX- 21.46

9 -Idaho St- 21.53

10 -NorCol- 21.57

11 -ND- 22.07

12 -Sac St- 22.25

How muddy is the course expected to be?

How can you have EWU in front of Montana? UM crushed them a just over a week ago!

My final predictions:

Men

1. Northern Arizona (15 point sweep)

2. Southern Utah

3. Idaho State

4. Weber State

5. Montana State

6. Eastern Washington

7. Idaho

8. Portland State

9. Montana

10. North Dakota

11. Sacramento State

12. Northern Colorado

Women

1. Northern Arizona

2. Weber State

3. Southern Utah

4. Montana

5. Idaho

6. Eastern Washington

7. Montana State

8. Idaho State

9. Portland State

10. Northern Colorado

11. North Dakota

12. Sacramento State

NOTHINGSTAYSTHESAME wrote:

EWU's coach has changed.

Cricket....cricket.....

My best guess-

Men

1- NAU (15)

2- SUU

3- Idaho

4- Weber St

5- MSU

6- EWU

7- ISU

8- Portland State

Women

1- Idaho

2- Montana

3- Weber

4- NAU

5- SUU

6- EWU

7- MSU

8- ISU

You're implying that Chris Zeller is a better coach than Chris Shane?

Crickets because that's absurd.

Chris Zellar was fired for getting drunk and passing out on the hotel room floor of the room of female athletes on his team he was trying to sleep with.....after buying booze for his entire team. What a winner.

He's probably the guy posting in here. Go away douche.

I actually think they were simply stating that there was not a change as in; Rodger that or that's a negative..... Meaning incorrect or no.

But that's just a best guess. ;)

I think the most intriguing race will be the Women's team title. NAU, Weber and Idaho could all win it.

Weber has a really good top 2. Both Whetten and Childs are very tough, experienced and consistent not to mention very talented. Both will be top 5. The problem for them is that their 3,4,5,6 are all on a lower level leaving room for the NAU and Idaho runners to sneak in there and steal the title. The key for Weber is having those 3,4,5 runners run well enough and not finish to far back.

Idaho similar to Weber has two really good runners, although not as experienced or talented. Their 3,4,5,6 runners are not as far back to their top 2. They will be running on their home course. It´s where they train, they know the terrain and being familiar with the environment they will be at a huge advantage. Not only that, but teams who host usually run more motivated and hungrier. Idaho will run well, but will they run well enough to pull an upset and win? I think they will!

NAU should be better than they are. Every year they seem to have talented runners but for some reason are always injured. All conference runner Paige Gilchrist has been one of the victims this year. She is trying to come back from injury and actually won a meet this weekend down in Arizona running around 18 minute flat for a 5k. NAU will need Gilchrist in their top 5 in order for them to have a chance to win. They have a top 5 runner in Townsend and pretty good second runner in Malespina (will probably finish somewhere in 8-15 place) and their 3rd and 4th runners are right there with Weber´s 3,4,5 and 6. Without Gilchirst, NAU will not win. If their 3,4 and Gilchrist runs well, I think they will take it. Another side not is that NAU almost always chokes in conference on the women´s side.

My predictions

1. Idaho

2. Weber

3. NAU

My predictions:

Wheten will win pretty easily over Reiter. The Weber women will have just enough with Child and Dilmore also in top 10 to hold off NAU. Idaho, Montana, Montana State, and Southern Utah could all win as a team if Webers top 3 falters and NAU has a bad day. Weird year for women.

Any news of individual entries for each Big Sky team at conference meet on Friday?

Provisional entries have been sent out but actual teams won't be declared until Thursday.

I doubt NAU men will put their full team in. They will rest them for regionals and nationals. 3 of their top 5 will probably not run. They will still win, but it won´t be a flawless 15 pt victory.

Wrong.

Heins in interview said they are going hard at conference, will try to coast at regionals.

I could quibble, but that is solid work.

Men- Idaho state can't be 3rd in a ranking...they haven't proven it. Idaho has and should be higher.

Women- Switch SUU and Idaho and you are closer to reality.

Men

Eastern Washington and Idaho State are not going to place nearly that high.

Women

No way Eastern Washington is not going to do that well! Southern Utah and Montana are both a reach to place that high.

Billybop wrote:

How can you have EWU in front of Montana? UM crushed them a just over a week ago!

You're team affiliation is clear Lol. I don't thing EWU ran a full squad which makes things much closer.

I agree with you, I think Montana is good.