Just touching on two of the bigger meets this weekend on the mens side. Feel free to give your own thoughts on what happened if you were at the meet. I am simply writing based on the results.
OK State Invite
- Luis Grijalva is a title contender and NAU is back on top but not by a comfortable margin. If Clayson Shumway wouldn't have run unattached we would have a very close race. No Nico young, but we didn't expect that given Mike Smith sits his freshman until the latter portion of the season. Given NAU hadn't raced since last NCAAs, they had a very good showing on a, what looks like a very tough course.
- Oklahoma State could be a top 3 team but seem to be missing one crucial piece. Still impressive of Ryan Schoppe on running well in a deep field as a freshman.
- BYU and the Return of Casey Clinger. Clinger had a great showing after being gone for two years. Looked like he was for sure 5th in the race but fought back and finished 3rd and putting away CU veteran Herrera. Mantz looks to be in full form again since his injury before the Marathon Trials. Still a very gutsy runner and took Luis to the end but couldn't quite hang on the last downhill portion. Expecting a rematch of that if winter XC is still going to happen.
UAB Blazer Classic
- In the mens Green race we saw a four way battle between Amon Kemboi(Formerly of Campbell), Mario Garcia Romo, Cole Bullock and Emmanuel Cheboson. All four separated by .7 seconds. Amon Kemboi coming out on top in his Arkansas Debut in 23:25.5.
- In the team race, Arkansas won this pretty handily and looks to be the favorite going into SECs. You never know what'll happen on the day. Ole Miss has 3 low sticks.
- Florida State were led by Rs. Freshman Gabriel Curtis but Florida State just can't compete with the Low sticks of Ole miss and the Depth of Arkansas.
-Mens Gold race we saw a three way battle between 3 Top Ten teams in Division II. Alabama Huntsville came out on top as they relied on Low Stick Jay Day and the depth of there 2-6. Augusta (Who seemed to be the favorite) Came out in 2nd. Then a little ways back was Lee(Tenn.) taking 3rd.
*Side note* Christian Noble of Lee(Tenn.) ran the fastest time of the day from the Gold race running 23:24.5. Solo effort from the D2 athlete winning his race by 51 seconds. Better performance than the first race? Or Easier to run that time after seeing the first race go?
Feel free to recap other races, correct what I said. I wasn't at the races, just basing opinions strictly off race results.