I was just wondering who is going to be the top teams, men and women, this year in D-II.
I was just wondering who is going to be the top teams, men and women, this year in D-II.
Western should win again, with Adams st, abilene christian and Truman close behind. After that it will be wide open, like it is every year.
What are the Western times from last year? Same for Adams St. True, they look to have it in locks. Hopefully nothing will happen to their runners.
truman is in no means a lock for 4th. i doubt they will be top 5 this year.[quote]CNrunna wrote:
Western should be tops followed by Abilene then adams then it might as well be up in the air. Harding should be pretty good but there will be a lot of tough teams in the 5 - 12 place at nationals. Who do people think will be the top runners? Western, Abiline and Adams have plenty but they all will not be in the top 10 - 15. Who are those guys from other teams that will make the splash this season? I am calling Nick Brannen from Abiliene will splash into the top 10 -12. I see some guys from the great lakes region making a splash as well with last year they had a 12th, 15th, 22nd? place finishers with two tough runners out for the season who where more than likely better. The west region is usually tough as well. Does UC and Chico have the ability to come to the Mid West and compete well if it is 20 degrees, unlike the 55 - 60 degrees of last year? If it would turn cold Western would be alright but would Abiliene? Just things for people to think about even though Slippery Rock was only 2 - 3 hours from where Nationals is this year. The weather is goofy in that part of the country so it could go either way. Hopefully it will be a crappy day so that the true nature of the runners will come out. Kemboi walked up a hill last year in Slippery Rock.
UMASS@Lowell has a damn good team with loads of talent. i'm just hoping my team will be coming to NCAAs with them go OWLS
OWLS! are you talking about SCSU. They have a good shot at going. The new england region has no depth. How many true D2 xc teams are in new england? I think i can count them on one hand. New england is dominated by D1 And D3 teams
thats true, you can count how many good D2 NE teams there are on about 3-4 fingers. Its too bad but thats how it is.
There is word out of Gunnison that a number of their better runners are going to be redshirting. Does anyone have the inside knowledge on this.
Who's hot in the East region. Sville and Edinboro are a lock for nationals but what do you guys think about the 3rd spot.
For the women, watch out for Grand Valley. they will give Western a run for their money. Check out their results from outdoor nats- last I heard all of those ladies were coming back for cross. all are Americans, too, unlike most of the top schools.
For the men, Western will dominate again. However, the GLIAC just might be the toughest conference anywhere: defending champs Wayne State return everybody, as does Ashland who adds redshirted Nick Cordes, an individual title contender. Grand Valley and Hillsdale also very tough- it sucks that only 2 will make it out of their region.
go ags of uc davis!! men will be tough!
Chico has been loading up with talent. Aggies will be chasing them this year. Ya can't be #1 in the West forever.
watch out for north florida women. they have some redshirts and transfers and should be a lock for top 5 women. i think if western does indeed redshirt a lot of their guys, adams could suprise many teams. it should be a dogfight for 4th. if we can stay healthy and our two recruits get their i-20, we should be much more solid than last year. whats the word on the ashlan course?
Ashland course is fairly easy (very easy compared w/ Slippery Rock!). It is on a golf course; there is a long gradual hill you run up 2 or 3 times, as well as quite a few turns and some slant-running on the side of an incline. Two years ago we ran regionals there and it was pretty fast, but last year at the GLIAC meet the ground was damp and the times were actually very slow. The firmness of the ground will make a lot of difference, so pay attention to how much rain central Ohio gets during early to mid-November. Also the course is very spectator-friendly. Go Lakers!
There is one very important guy on Western States XC team that is serious injuried, Scott Nagelkerke. From what I have heard he has not been able to train seriously for over a month.
accupro wrote:
Who's hot in the East region. Sville and Edinboro are a lock for nationals but what do you guys think about the 3rd spot.
i would hardly say millersville has a lock on qualifying. according to their website, stallings is redshirting. predictions: edinboro way up with lock haven 2nd, millersville, and shippensburg fighting for the 3rd spot. i think millersville will get it though. any word on the course where regionals is held? being in west virginia, i can imagine it's pretty hilly. individually: rowe from edinboro will destroy the field and will go on to fight for the national title. ricky moore returns from redshirting for wheeling jesuit and should qualify individually, and cowan from lock haven will be up there as well. peace.
cocoa beware
Scott Nagelkerke is not injured, he will be redshirting cross this fall.
maybe guys like Kezes and Banks will step up this year for western. Looks like it might not be as big of a blowout as last year.
who do you think will come out in top of the chico/davis rivalry. Looks like both teams lost their number one runners.