Former teen phenoms Katelyn Tuohy and Nico Young will be your NCAA xc champions

Nice article, Tuohy is an easy pick, she just keeps getting stronger and stronger. I hope Nico breaks out with a victory. It is kind of fun especially on the men's side, alot of teams could win it.

Nah:

Seems like a wishcast rather than a forecast. But hopefully the young American stars will prove me wrong.

Nico has not shown he has enough of a kick to win close races. If he wins it will need to be the way Mantz did by taking control of the race and pulling away earlier. At this point I don't think Nico is strong enough to do that vs. the field.

Tuohy has a much better chance of winning IMO.

Rojo wrotes thread titles like 13 year old trolls now

When you look at their college momentum plus their current physical built. Tuohy can win more NCAA Trophies in XC, 3000m, 5000m and even in 1500m and Mile and heck even at 10000m if she wants to. Nico on the other hand will struggle to even win one at 5000m or XC.

I will feel more informed as to making a pick after the Friday race, and even more so October 15. But I do wonder if those not on a top team, for example Valby, might have an edge if they make an early push with no risk of a final k blowup affecting the team.

I've decided to root for Natalie Cook because she's a freshman, not that I don't appreciate Tuohy's talent. Also, I'm picking a Stanford runner to be the top men's winner. I might change my mind as we get closer to November.

If you are asking if they will win as opposed to the other 100 top runners, the answer is easy. If you are asking who will win If not them, the question is difficult.

Valby always runs from the front. Katelyn just needs to draft off of her.

Anything can happen at Nats, but seems wishful thinking to pick Young over Hicks, given that Hicks beat him both at Nats last year and at Cowboy this last Saturday.

Doubt anyone other than tuohy could make a big move like that on a woman's side, maybe mercy, but no one else is going to run away with it on the woman's side and have any chance to hold on... Also I don't think these runners are that worried about blowing up... Unless they've been dealing with niggles or something

why does this sound like rojo

also let me put this here https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ciz1NM-rKM4/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

If there is one thing I learned from the past years, it is to never bet against a healthy Katelyn Tuohy. Never.

I would love to see Nico win, but NAU is such a unique and refreshing culture that they run for the team and not for themselves. I believe Nico will not even attempt to win unless the leader is right in front of him the last quarter mile. He will be focused on leading the NAU pack.

However, unless she has an off day, I can’t see anyone beating Tuohy on the girls side this season. The one and most important thing Rojo did not mention in Tuohy’s defense or reason for picking her is that the course is tough and hilly. Tuohy is from NY and all her best speed ratings and times were on tough hilly courses. The OK State course is built for her strengths right now. None of the top contenders have her strength or hill running ability, and clearly non of the contenders have her 1500m speed.

This sounds like a fancy way of saying she's better than everyone else.

Why?

yea, but my question really is if it a very honest pace thru 3k/4k and then Valby breaks away and noone else goes with her. How much do those on good teams worry about maintaining a position vs the risk of losing 20 places in the last k which can happen if things go wrong? Madison will be the closest thing to this course Tuohy and some others will see. Perhaps that will give her a good idea how fast of a race at Stillwater she is ready for. Valby and Chelangat may not see a hill in a race all year until Stillwater ...and then they see a bunch.