If Connor Mantz wins the NCAAs this year, would you consider him the greatest collegiate cross country runner ever?

Someone wins once, and is in the discussion for best ever? If you are predicting the future, how about Colin Sahlman? He isn't in college until next year, but maybe he'll win four in a row, lol.

Mantz might win three or four more, before all is said and done. Not sure if Nico can take him, but he might.

Chez literally won 3 lmao

Well yeah, isn't he almost 30? An advantage when competing against 19 year olds. Would love to see him move up to the marathon. That will be his best distance if he leaves college before he hits 40.

8/10, got some responses.

But because the topic is fun, there are a few 3-time champions (Ches, Rono, Lindgren, Pre). A number of others won two (Bob Kennedy [including as a true frosh], Siamusiye, Bairu, Chelanga, Al Lawrence).

I'd probably rank them:

1. Rono (seems obvious)

2. Cheserek

3. Kennedy

4. Pre

5. Lindgren

6. Chelanga

7. Siamusiye

8. Bairu

9. Goucher

10. Rupp

Gerry Lindgren, Steve Prefontaine, Henry Rono, Edward Cheserek, have all won three. You want to be considered the greatest ever with less wins than that, you'll need to dominate an all star field. Look at all the big names Rono beat, Alberto, Craig Virgin, Tearcy at providence, the whole big wave of kenyans coming over.

He is currently 24, he turns 25 in December. He was 24 last winter when he won his first NCAA cross country title. It's a joke that a 24 yearold can win an NCAA cross title and still have another attempt the next season. A lot of people are 21 years old for their senior NCAA cross country season, and most of the others are 22 years old. On a rare occasion you have a 23 year old. But here we have a guy who is 24 years old for his first win, and gets another chance a month before he turns 25. He should be on his second or third year of professional running at this point.

birdbeard wrote:

8/10, got some responses.

But because the topic is fun, there are a few 3-time champions (Ches, Rono, Lindgren, Pre). A number of others won two (Bob Kennedy [including as a true frosh], Siamusiye, Bairu, Chelanga, Al Lawrence).

I'd probably rank them:

1. Rono (seems obvious)

2. Cheserek

3. Kennedy

4. Pre

5. Lindgren

6. Chelanga

7. Siamusiye

8. Bairu

9. Goucher

10. Rupp

Why would you put Kennedy above Pre and Lindgren?

Connor's Lance wrote:

birdbeard wrote:

8/10, got some responses.

But because the topic is fun, there are a few 3-time champions (Ches, Rono, Lindgren, Pre). A number of others won two (Bob Kennedy [including as a true frosh], Siamusiye, Bairu, Chelanga, Al Lawrence).

I'd probably rank them:

1. Rono (seems obvious)

2. Cheserek

3. Kennedy

4. Pre

5. Lindgren

6. Chelanga

7. Siamusiye

8. Bairu

9. Goucher

10. Rupp

Why would you put Kennedy above Pre and Lindgren?

Strength of competition, although it's arguable for sure. The NCAA didn't really start to get a ton more competitive with an influx of international athletes until the mid-90s, but it had started by Kennedy's years (88-92).

Gets a hit for age wrote:

He is currently 24, he turns 25 in December. He was 24 last winter when he won his first NCAA cross country title. It's a joke that a 24 yearold can win an NCAA cross title and still have another attempt the next season. A lot of people are 21 years old for their senior NCAA cross country season, and most of the others are 22 years old. On a rare occasion you have a 23 year old. But here we have a guy who is 24 years old for his first win, and gets another chance a month before he turns 25. He should be on his second or third year of professional running at this point.

Bekele broke the 5k world record at the age 22. He never ran faster! 20 year old Jakob just won the gold beating all those old 25year olds! If anything they should give 24/25 year olds a handicap. They’re over the hill! Let them start 20 seconds before everyone else.

One other thing -- Kennedy is one of the only people to ever win as a true freshman.

Prefontaine went 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st

Cheserek went 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd

Could not confirm if Lindgren and Rono had 4 finishes.

Sancho wrote:

Prefontaine went 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st

Cheserek went 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd

Could not confirm if Lindgren and Rono had 4 finishes.

Lindgren only had 3 finishes.

Rono went 1st, 1st, 237th, 1st.

1. Rono (seems obvious) - 1st (still NCAA record 28:07), 1st, 237th, 1st

2. Cheserek: 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd

3. Kennedy: 1st, 5th, 3rd, 1st

4. Pre: 3rd, 1st, 1st, 1st

5. Lindgren: 1st, 1st, 1st

6. Chelanga 2nd, 1st, 1st

7. Siamusiye 1st, 1st

8. Bairu: 38th, 9th, 1st, 1st

9. Goucher 2nd, 6th, 4th, 1st

10. Rupp: 6th, 2nd, 1st

What about the Master's Division?

We all know that for 10,000 meters you are not at your peak at age 21/22/23. You can maybe give me a couple examples of someone who didn't get faster, but the vast majority of people who have a long career in running do not run their best at 10,000 meters at 21/22/23 years of age. I ran 28:30 at age 24, a couple years after college. In college I only ran 28:59. I was not All-American, but if I ran the way I did at age 24 and was still in college, I'd probably be all-american.

birdbeard wrote:

8/10, got some responses.

But because the topic is fun, there are a few 3-time champions (Ches, Rono, Lindgren, Pre). A number of others won two (Bob Kennedy [including as a true frosh], Siamusiye, Bairu, Chelanga, Al Lawrence).

I'd probably rank them:

1. Rono (seems obvious)

2. Cheserek

3. Kennedy

4. Pre

5. Lindgren

6. Chelanga

7. Siamusiye

8. Bairu

9. Goucher

10. Rupp

Nick Rose managed 9,2,1,2 with his runnerup finishes being behind Pre and Virgin.

Connor's Lance wrote:

And if he wins again next year, how amazing would that be? The guy is simply amazing and I am not even a BYU fan.

I hate troll posts like this. They heap excessive praise on someone or something only with the intent of setting up that person for abuse from other commenters. It's cowardly and dishonest. If you have a problem with Mantz, own up to it instead of hiding behind other commenters.

ared wrote:

Chez literally won 3 lmao

He's from Kenya, right?