Talkin' HEPS XC, 2009!

Women :

1) Princeton (Seems unbeatable)

2-3) Brown vs. Harvard (Brown returns way better, Harvard brings in very strong recruits, both teams ran well on the track)

4-8) I have no idea.

Men :

1-2) Princeton vs. Columbia (Princeton loses to graduation, but gains Cabral and Amirault for XC plus much stronger Trevor A., Columbia will likely not be as deep past 5 as past years but return Poland-Martin-Hartnett-Merber for probably the best top 4 in the league)

3-6) Cornell vs. Brown vs. Dartmouth vs. Harvard (Though Cornell looks best on paper, Brown, Dartmouth and Harvard all gain an edge because they aren't coached by Rojo. Those three return very solid, but Cornell with Edelman, Frost-Tift, Dannemiller should contend with Princeton and Columbia up front, but seems to lack depth remainder of top 6 has. Dartmouth and Brown both return deep, senior heavy squads, while Harvard seems to have a mountain of young talent)

7-8) Penn and Yale will try, and fail, to maintain some semblance of a distance program.

Any word on Sitler? I did not see his name in the results this past winter or during outdoor. His role is obviously huge in a Princeton Columbia rivalry for the win. As far as the individual crown goes I would say it is Chenoweth unless he has a bad day like he did last year. After Chenoweth I'll take Edelman, Cabral, Sitler, Lueng, Merber, Harvard beard kid for 1st team All-Ivy (I think its top 7).

Team Predictions

1. Columbia

2. Princeton

3. Cornell

4. Harvard (where was star frosh Brandon Jarrett?)

5. Dartmouth

6. Brown

7. Penn

8. Yale (graduate their top 3 from last year vs Penn graduates their 3rd man, but these two teams appear to be head and shoulders above the rest in lack of distance running ability)

Any recruits who can make an impact? I do not really follow dyestat anymore.

princeton and columbia are big favorites. with a healthy tolev, penn can challenge for top 3-4 though. they won't have a repeat of last year's disaster

For the men's side, my pre-season poll looks something like

Title Contenders

1) Columbia: Great pack, I don't know if it will be penetrable, especially if their top 5 is all within 5 seconds again this year.

2) Princeton: very sophomore heavy, which is always risky. Expect Cabral to make a big impact. Also expect a bunch of really good recruits to fall by the wayside, as has become habit out there.

2) Cornell: Should definitely be in the mix, very good reciting class as well. Expect Dannemiller and Edelman to be top 10.

Possible Breakthrough

4) Harvard- Chenowith, Gillespie, and Jarrett(?) are as good a top three as C/C/P, but I don't know what kind of depth they will have, so they are a big question mark at this point.

Mid-Pack

5)Brown- Brings back top 5 from last year, decent coaching ensures some nice development out of these guys.

6) Dartmouth- losing True and Randall hurts, but they're always good for a middle of the pack finish.

Stragglers

7) Penn- If this year's performances are any indication, this team will be dead by early October. Program needs to shift direction fast (athletes? coaching? Probably the latter).

8) Yale- Not looking good. Lose top 3 of an already awful team to graduation. Program ready to call this a "rebuilding year".

I think all of us reading this thread no one thing, and it is this:

The Heps XC meet NEVER turns out the way it is supposed to on paper. Columbia may look strongest (barely) on paper right now, but with an off day by one or two of their runners, they could finish 5th.

I like what Saretsky is doing at Harvard and think they will continue to move up ladder every year.

Not sure what Lake has been doing at Brown but clearly it isn't really working so they have no chance.

Princeton contends EVERY year.

Yale needs new coaching.

Everyone else not mentioned so far definitely can win. That is what makes HEPS so exciting; almost every year more than half the teams really do have a shot at winning if they run really well.

Sorry, should have included a link to last year's results:

http://www.plattsys.com/results/res2008/heps08.htm

Interesting that there's not too much speculation about the women's meet so far. Granted, it pretty much looks like Princeton and the Seven Dwarfs this year, but there's still the potential for major shakeups in the positions after first...

Princeton has a serious untapped sophomore resource that is expected to turn out at least for track next year.

Inside Info wrote:

Princeton has a serious untapped sophomore resource that is expected to turn out at least for track next year.

If by sophomore you mean rising junior, maybe. If by sophomore you mean rising sophomore... what?

Princeton is the favorite, and to deny that would be crazy. When you win the last few championships, people are going to be looking at you. It is their title to lose and to try and defend. The question is...who has the best chance of doing this?

So what kind of things are important to look at when trying to figure out who is going to be good?(some are obvious)

1) Who is returning? If you are bringing back a lot of guys, then your chances are looking really good.

2) What were a teams best track times last year, compared to this year. If a 14:50 guy was running X for VCP, and now he is a 14:20 guy, he will be running a lot faster.

3)How old are the guys that teams are returning? The younger the better because I would say from freshman year to sophomore year there is a bigger jump than junior to senior year.

4) What kind of improvement has there been in an athletes distance events during the track season? If a guy was always primarily a miler, but then stepped up to run some fast 5k's or 10k's, that will surely be reflected in XC.

5) Who has the depth? Oh how things change from the beginning of the season to the next. Injuries will occur and some people will burn out. It is essential for a team to be 7 deep.

Don't forget the recruits! Here's what I found on dyestat.com, which lists the majority of the high schoolers who have already declared which college they're going to in the fall:

(last name, first name, high school name, town, state, event)

Brown:

Geiger Ross Campolindo HS Moraga CA Distance

Jack Dillon Torrey Pines Torrey Pines CA Distance

Keefer Zach Morristown High School Morristown NJ Sprints,Hurdles

Plant-Thomas Tess La Jolla La Jolla CA Distance

Rugino Angela Toms River North HS Hackensack NJ Distance

Shigenobu Taro Ridgewood Ridgewood NJ Distance

Snyder Austin Berkeley CA Distance

Stumpf Micahel Xavier HS Appleton WI Distance

Walters Chelsea West Windsor N HS Plainsboro NJ Jumps

Columbia:

Alexander Julie Hopewell Valley Central Pennington NJ Hurdles

Bell Yamira The Hun School Princeton NJ Sprints

Briggs Jocelyn Winnacunnet HS Hampton NH Sprints,Jumps

Buck Clare Hopewell Valley Pennington NJ Distance

Fingers Jessica Monticello Monticello NY Distance

Gillingham Erin Torrey Pines Solana Beach CA Distance

Kalbian Irene Cheshire Cheshire CT Distance

Lanois Emily Hamilton-Wenham Regional High South Hamilton MA Distance

McDonough Caroline Darien high school Darien CT Distance

Murphy Camille Framington Framington MA Distance

Ofoche Helen Uju Parkville High School Baltimore MD Sprints,Jumps

Okeke Queen Denise Irving High School Irving TX Jumps

Pearson Erica Newport Harbor Newport Beach CA Distance

Reilly Trish West Windsor Plainsboro North West Windsor NJ Distance

Rodriguez Susan Pleasant Valley Bettendorf IA Hurdles

Snyder Paul Churchill HS San Antonio TX Distance

Spencer Leighton Don Bosco Prep NJ

Tenev Christopher The Lawrenceville School Lawrenceville NJ Hurdles

Van Rysselberghe Noelle Jesuit Portland OR Distance

Vegvari Dora Elte Radnoti Miklos Budapest IT Hurdles,Jumps

Williamson Cait Sage Hill HS Newport Beach CA Distance

Cornell:

Adarquad-Yiadom Jedidiah Westerville South Columbus OH Sprints

Arnold Andrew Bishop Eustace Prep NJ

Brent Brady Mountain View Bend OR Jumps

Broser Mitch Kingsville Windsor IT Throws

Buchan Kathryn Fayetteville-Manlius Fayetteville NY Distance

Cariati Sarah Pope John XXIII Franklin NJ Distance

Cariello David Middletown Middletown NJ Hurdles,Jumps

Catanzarite Maria Riley HS South Bend IN Distance

Chepkwony Nelson St. Peters Eldoret IT Distance

Cheverette-Belisle Hubert JBM Repentigny, Quebec IT Sprints,Hurdles

Costich Cara Wilton HS Wilton CT Distance

Dombrowski Brittany Archbishop Molloy Briarwood NY Throws

Feidler Rob Tri-Valley Grahamsville NY Throws

Hanly Ailish Westford Academy Westford MA Jumps

Hartung Genna Seton Catholic Morrisonville NY Distance

Hortelano-Roig Bruno Assumption Burlington, Ontario IT Sprints

Howard Leroy St. Andrews Potomac MD Sprints

Isen Steven Belmont Hill Belmont MA Sprints

Jacobson Nate Elmira Elmira NY Distance

Johnson Kevin Falcon HS Falcon CO Distance

Karys Kelsey Newton South HS Newton MA Distance

Kellner Katie West Windsor HS West Windsor NJ Distance

Kelly Brett Madison West Madison WI Distance

McCuiston David Marvin Ridge H.S. Waxhaw NC Distance

McCullough Matt Malvern Prep Malvern PA Distance

McKenna Marie Pennridge Perkasie PA Distance

McFall Will 1000 Island Secondary BRockville, Ontario IT Distance

Micikas Robert Crestwood H.S. Mountain Top PA Distance

Moody Ben Lakeview Lakeview OH Hurdles

Murphy Mike B.C. High Boston MA Throws

O`Connor Alyssa Summit Bend OR Distance

Reamer Elizabeth Ithaca Ithaca NY Distance

Roach Peter Elkhart Memorial ELkhart IN Jumps

Rosettie Kate Corning East Corning NY Distance

Trofa Adam Amity Woodbridge CT Distance

Wade Nick North Attleboro HS North Attleboro MA Distance

Wade Noah Crescent Valley Corvalis OR Distance

White Jourdan Fordham Prep NY

Zeller Zach Athena Greece NY Hurdles

Dartmouth:

Beaulieu-Jones Brendin East Catholic HS Vernon CT Hurdles

Bruton Olivia Bronxville Bronxville NY Sprints,Distance

Bub Christine Letchworth Strykersville NY Sprints,Distance

Connolly David Marist School Atlanta GA Distance

Danaher Mike Shenendehowa Clifton Park NY Distance

D`Orazio Kaitlyn Saint Thomas Aquinas HS Dover NH Distance

Doherty Adam Arlington Lagrangeville NY Distance

Folk Robert Memphis Univ. School Memphis TN Throws

Gault Jonathan Bedford HS Bedford MA Distance

Gilson Brett Council Rock HS South Richboro PA Sprints,Jumps,Throws

Goldberg Austin Lake Forest HS Lake Bluff IL Sprints

Kevin Crowley Barrington Community HS Barrington IL Jumps

Meill Alexander Redwood HS Kentfield CA Jumps

O`Brien April Pentucket regional Bradford MA Distance

Romaniw Anthony St. Thomas More Hamilton, Ontario IT Sprints,Distance

Ryding Cassandra Westford Academy Westford MA Hurdles

Sullivan Katie Ursuline School Carmel NY Distance

Vorhies Tom Morris Knolls High School Rockaway NJ Throws

Wilcox Melanie Ursuline Academy Dallas TX Distance

Harvard:

Galebach Phil Medford HS Medford MA Distance

Jackucewicz Brianna Colts Neck HS NJ

Pohorence Sean Morris Hills NJ

Silva Sammy Academy of Our Lady of Peace San Diego CA Distance

Watt Sharon Jackson Memorial NJ

Penn:

Lorenzo Matt Upper Dublin HS Fort Washington PA Distance

Princeton:

Birky Christian Saugatuck HS Saugatuck MI Distance

Callahan Peter North Shore Country Day School Winnetka IL Distance

Franklin Michael Mendham HS Mendham NJ Distance

Galasso George Holmdel HS Holmdel NJ Distance

Gonzalez Matthew The Lawrenceville School Lawrenceville NJ Sprints,Distance

Kann Matt Fox Chapel Area HS Pittsburgh PA Throws

Kohles Greg St. Peter`s Prep Jersey City NJ Sprints

Mathabane Nathan Lincoln High School Portland OR Distance

Palmisano Michael Upper Dublin HS Fort Washington PA Distance

Sheldon Ricky Episcopal HS Baton Rouge LA Hurdles

Steffen Sebastian Alexander-von-Humboldt-Gymnasium Greifswald IT Sprints

Webb James Strake Jesuit College Prep Houston TX Distance

Yale:

Ferraro Will St Paul`s School er PA Distance

Flannery Tori Bronxville Bronxville NY Distance

Goutos Demetri Saratoga Springs Saratoga Springs NY Distance

Hillas Tim Lawrenceville School Princeton NJ Distance

Hudson Caitlin Broxville HS NY Distance

Kirtner Sammy South Eugene Eugene OR Distance

Levine Michael Commach HS Commack NY Throws

Lunn Kevin Laguna Blanca School Santa Barbara CA Distance

Pierce Michael Holy Ghost Preparatory Richboro PA Distance

Ramsey Chris Glendora Glendora CA Distance

Thwaites Matt South Burlington Burlington VT Distance

Word is that Escereno is coming back to Brown. Helps that squad a lot.

I think that he just ran at the MW Distance Gala - like 14:4x for the 5k win. Also-sitler's been abroad all year so perhaps they just chose not to fly him back for the track seasons? Maybe he jsut raced in the UK

C/M Runner, thanks for your work! I've taken the liberty of deleting from your post anyone who isn't listed as "distance." (Apologies in advance if I screw this up--I'm not gonna make a big proofread.)

C/M Runner wrote:

Don't forget the recruits! Here's what I found on dyestat.com, which lists the majority of the high schoolers who have already declared which college they're going to in the fall:

(last name, first name, high school name, town, state, event)

Brown:

Geiger Ross Campolindo HS Moraga CA Distance

Jack Dillon Torrey Pines Torrey Pines CA Distance

Plant-Thomas Tess La Jolla La Jolla CA Distance

Rugino Angela Toms River North HS Hackensack NJ Distance

Shigenobu Taro Ridgewood Ridgewood NJ Distance

Snyder Austin Berkeley CA Distance

Stumpf Micahel Xavier HS Appleton WI Distance

Columbia:

Buck Clare Hopewell Valley Pennington NJ Distance

Fingers Jessica Monticello Monticello NY Distance

Gillingham Erin Torrey Pines Solana Beach CA Distance

Kalbian Irene Cheshire Cheshire CT Distance

Lanois Emily Hamilton-Wenham Regional High South Hamilton MA Distance

McDonough Caroline Darien high school Darien CT Distance

Murphy Camille Framington Framington MA Distance

Pearson Erica Newport Harbor Newport Beach CA Distance

Reilly Trish West Windsor Plainsboro North West Windsor NJ Distance

Snyder Paul Churchill HS San Antonio TX Distance

Van Rysselberghe Noelle Jesuit Portland OR Distance

Williamson Cait Sage Hill HS Newport Beach CA Distance

Cornell:

Buchan Kathryn Fayetteville-Manlius Fayetteville NY Distance

Cariati Sarah Pope John XXIII Franklin NJ Distance

Catanzarite Maria Riley HS South Bend IN Distance

Chepkwony Nelson St. Peters Eldoret IT Distance

Costich Cara Wilton HS Wilton CT Distance

Hartung Genna Seton Catholic Morrisonville NY Distance

Jacobson Nate Elmira Elmira NY Distance

Johnson Kevin Falcon HS Falcon CO Distance

Karys Kelsey Newton South HS Newton MA Distance

Kellner Katie West Windsor HS West Windsor NJ Distance

Kelly Brett Madison West Madison WI Distance

McCuiston David Marvin Ridge H.S. Waxhaw NC Distance

McCullough Matt Malvern Prep Malvern PA Distance

McKenna Marie Pennridge Perkasie PA Distance

McFall Will 1000 Island Secondary BRockville, Ontario IT Distance

Micikas Robert Crestwood H.S. Mountain Top PA Distance

O`Connor Alyssa Summit Bend OR Distance

Reamer Elizabeth Ithaca Ithaca NY Distance

Rosettie Kate Corning East Corning NY Distance

Trofa Adam Amity Woodbridge CT Distance

Wade Nick North Attleboro HS North Attleboro MA Distance

Wade Noah Crescent Valley Corvalis OR Distance

Dartmouth:

Bruton Olivia Bronxville Bronxville NY Sprints,Distance

Bub Christine Letchworth Strykersville NY Sprints,Distance

Connolly David Marist School Atlanta GA Distance

Danaher Mike Shenendehowa Clifton Park NY Distance

D`Orazio Kaitlyn Saint Thomas Aquinas HS Dover NH Distance

Doherty Adam Arlington Lagrangeville NY Distance

Gault Jonathan Bedford HS Bedford MA Distance

O`Brien April Pentucket regional Bradford MA Distance

Romaniw Anthony St. Thomas More Hamilton, Ontario IT Sprints,Distance

Sullivan Katie Ursuline School Carmel NY Distance

Wilcox Melanie Ursuline Academy Dallas TX Distance

Harvard:

Galebach Phil Medford HS Medford MA Distance

Silva Sammy Academy of Our Lady of Peace San Diego CA Distance

Penn:

Lorenzo Matt Upper Dublin HS Fort Washington PA Distance

Princeton:

Birky Christian Saugatuck HS Saugatuck MI Distance

Callahan Peter North Shore Country Day School Winnetka IL Distance

Franklin Michael Mendham HS Mendham NJ Distance

Galasso George Holmdel HS Holmdel NJ Distance

Gonzalez Matthew The Lawrenceville School Lawrenceville NJ Sprints,Distance

Mathabane Nathan Lincoln High School Portland OR Distance

Palmisano Michael Upper Dublin HS Fort Washington PA Distance

Webb James Strake Jesuit College Prep Houston TX Distance

Yale:

Ferraro Will St Paul`s School er PA Distance

Flannery Tori Bronxville Bronxville NY Distance

Goutos Demetri Saratoga Springs Saratoga Springs NY Distance

Hillas Tim Lawrenceville School Princeton NJ Distance

Hudson Caitlin Broxville HS NY Distance

Kirtner Sammy South Eugene Eugene OR Distance

Lunn Kevin Laguna Blanca School Santa Barbara CA Distance

Pierce Michael Holy Ghost Preparatory Richboro PA Distance

Ramsey Chris Glendora Glendora CA Distance

Thwaites Matt South Burlington Burlington VT Distance

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Best I can say is that I think large numbers of potential varsity distance runners--dozens, between the two sexes and among the eight schools--have not yet been listed! Where a school's incoming distance athletes are exclusively (or almost exclusively) of one sex, you can be fairly sure there are more names to be posted...though I noticed last year that some names are simply never posted at all.

[Similarly, those trying to dope out Heps t&f will probably be hampered by a lack of info. For whatever reason, a lot of non-distance people get listed late, or not at all.]

BRF wrote:

Best I can say is that I think large numbers of potential varsity distance runners--dozens, between the two sexes and among the eight schools--have not yet been listed! Where a school's incoming distance athletes are exclusively (or almost exclusively) of one sex, you can be fairly sure there are more names to be posted...though I noticed last year that some names are simply never posted at all.

[Similarly, those trying to dope out Heps t&f will probably be hampered by a lack of info. For whatever reason, a lot of non-distance people get listed late, or not at all.]

Not all high school athletes know of this site. I remember at the end of my senior year in high school, I think there were only 10 people listed on dyestat.com who reported they were going to Harvard. In reality, there were more like 16 or so (I don't remember the exact number).

So the recruits listed on dyestat.com do NOT represent the entire recruiting class. If a school reports their recruiting class on their athletic website, feel free to post it in here. I know Oregon has theirs listed, but I haven't seen any for other schools...

And you're welcome BRF.

Chepkwony Nelson St. Peters Eldoret IT Distance

What the what? Is this a legitimate thing or will he be like the Harvard Kenyans?

X CU XC wrote:

Chepkwony Nelson St. Peters Eldoret IT Distance

What the what? Is this a legitimate thing or will he be like the Harvard Kenyans?

The only thing that I've found that even approximately relates "Nelson Chepkwony" to athletics is this:

Anyone have more information about him?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Of course, Cornell's first Kenyan "connection" was probably Steve Machooka, nearly 50 years ago...

I can't even find anything on Nelson under similar common spellings of Kenyan last names (sometimes Ch- is replaced by J-, like with Jelimo/Chelimo). Unless he also goes by Nilson...Ask one of the Brojos.

wuu wrote:

The only thing that I've found that even approximately relates "Nelson Chepkwony" to athletics is this:

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/kipkelion/message/431

Anyone have more information about him?

Any other news? I wouldn't be surprised if we don't hear much more until August.

Also, Columbia has been out on a search for another distance assistant coach. Any word on how that is going?

Princeton men's distance class is incredible.

Peter Callahan

Mile -4:05.20, 800 - 1:51.22

Russell Dinkins

400 - 47.66, 800 - 1:51.92

Michael Franklin

3200 - 9:07.66

George Galasso

FL Finalist / 9:15

Matt Gonzalez

800 - 1:53.5

Nathan Mathabane

1500 - 3:50.58, 800 - 1:51.88

Michael Palmisano

1600 - 4:13.93, 800 - 1:52.45

James Webb

3200 - 8:55.39