HEPS Cross Country 2012

Sorry, I don't have any info to give.

I've noticed that Ivy athletes and coaches are not big on trash talk, so there might not be any responses at this point in the summer.

I will say that, given all the recent shakeups (and trumpeted recruits), I'm going to be interested to see how Penn fares this fall.

Billy orman has transferred from Harvard to Stanford.

Anthony Romaniw has transferred from Dartmouth to university of Guelph ( Canada). He sat out this past year but he is an 800m specialist.

But no other word on recruits yet, outside what is on dyestat

http://dyestat.rise.espn.go.com/collegepicks.jsp?seasonyear=2012&sort=conference&conference=Ivy+Group

But for me, I would prefer to talk about this after the Olympics. At least eight alumni are going...

Thanks for the link, C/M!

As I understand it, the rules permit coaches to publicize their recruiting class only once, so the info on DS presumably comes from the students' contacting the site directly.

[Either that, or some of the Ivies have fairly thin, but high quality, crews coming in. Or some Ivy coaches don't follow the rule. (What? The Ivy League? Nevah!)]

Anyway, even from that limited sample it's pretty clear that the Ivy schools continue to gain ground in recruiting athletes at the very top of the nation's performance lists. That Ivy League financial aid can be tough to beat.

_________________________________________

Embarrassing to ask, given my NYC-area residence, but does anyone know whether Van Cortlandt (you know what I mean: the *real* course) will be open for xc this fall? When last I was there, VCP looked like it was at least another two years away, but I'd love to be wrong. (If I'm gonna freeze while watching Heps, I'd rather do so at Vanny than in West Windsor, NJ...)

heps last year minus the seniors-

Tyler Udland SO Princeton 8 Mike Murphy JR Columbia Nico Composto SO Columbia Chris Bendtsen SO Princeton Brett Kelly JR Cornell Matt McDonald FR Princeton Kevin Lunn JR Yale Ben Veilleux JR Columbia Alejandro Arroyo Yamin SO Princeton John Bleday SO Dartmouth

Paul Snyder JR Columbia Steve Mangan SO Dartmouth Eddie Owens FR Princeton Daniel Everett FR Columbia Jonathan Gault JR Dartmouth Austin Snyder JR Brown Max Groves SO Cornell Gabe Heck SO Cornell Jakob Lindaas JR Harvard Jacob Sandry FR Yale

kibitzer wrote:

Thanks for the link, C/M!

As I understand it, the rules permit coaches to publicize their recruiting class only once, so the info on DS presumably comes from the students' contacting the site directly.

[Either that, or some of the Ivies have fairly thin, but high quality, crews coming in. Or some Ivy coaches don't follow the rule. (What? The Ivy League? Nevah!)]

Anyway, even from that limited sample it's pretty clear that the Ivy schools continue to gain ground in recruiting athletes at the very top of the nation's performance lists. That Ivy League financial aid can be tough.

Yes, dyestat listings are from the students informing the website directly. I think most coaches will not announce the incoming classes until later this summer...

Sorry--I had thought I'd do a mock scoring of the Heps xc meet, just based on nonseniors who participated in last year's meet, but unfortunately I've got that same problem again when I try to connect to hepstrack.com: "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage." That's actually the result I get about 80-90% of the time now. I'll keep trying, but have to go back to work tomorrow and probably won't have an opportunity to total/post the scores.

...Not that they would have been more than mildly amusing anyway, given that they wouldn't take into account people who missed last year's meet (sick/injured perhaps).

Okay, two things:

1) I was able to pull up Hepstrack.com, and it turns out that their results from last year didn't include people's class years anyway! I'll try another source or two.

2) Before you ask: yes, I've tried Firefox (instead of IE), and I had a very bad experience with it. I know it's worked fine for a lot of people--I'm glad for them--but I won't be trying it again.

Right, here we go with a mock scoring of Heps returnees: people who a) ran in last year's Heps, and b) were listed as FR, SO, or JR. I haven't taken anything else (injury, transfer, incorrect listing of class year, etc.) into account. I also didn't number a team's sixth or seventh runner if s/he wouldn't make a difference to any other team's score.

[I caught one major error and two minor errors in putting this together; there might well be others. Sorry in advance--corrections welcome!]

FOR AMUSEMENT ONLY

MEN:

1. Princeton 34 (1 4 6 9 14 / 25 35)

2. Columbia 36 (2 3 8 11 12 / 15 23)

3. Cornell 88 (5 18 19 22 24 / 33 43)

4. Dartmouth 118 (10 13 16 37 42 / 47)

5. Yale 132 (7 21 28 31 45 / 48)

6. Brown 144 (17 27 29 30 41)

7. Harvard 150 (20 26 32 34 38 / 44)

8. Penn 210 (36 39 40 46 49)

WOMEN:

1. Columbia 44 (2 5 8 14 15 / 26 29)

2. Cornell 48 (3 4 10 11 20 / 23 25)

3. Yale 91 (6 7 16 30 32 /36 39)

4. Princeton 102 (13 18 19 24 28 / 31 37)

5. Dartmouth 131 (1 17 33 35 45)

6. Brown 146 (9 12 38 40 47 / 49)

7. Harvard 167 (21 27 34 41 44 / 46)

8. Penn 205 (22 42 43 48 50)

A glorious Fourth to all. See ya in the fall.

Odd on how you're still having the issue with the website. I am no website guru, but I did forward the posts to Brett. Hopefully he has an idea as he is more web-saavy than me.

kibitzer wrote:

Sorry--I had thought I'd do a mock scoring of the Heps xc meet, just based on nonseniors who participated in last year's meet, but unfortunately I've got that same problem again when I try to connect to hepstrack.com: "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage." That's actually the result I get about 80-90% of the time now. I'll keep trying, but have to go back to work tomorrow and probably won't have an opportunity to total/post the scores.

Which version of IE are you using?

RoJo is out as men's dist/mid-dist coach at Cornell:

http://www.letsrun.com/2012/johnsonvolunteer.htm

Can't say it was a huge surprise. As LRC has become a bigger and bigger deal, it had to drawing more of his time and energy. In addition, I believe his nuptials are set for later this year. [Insert joke about cutoff here...]

Realistically, the Big Red's underperformance in the distance races (more so than the mid-d) in the last couple years of Heps competition has been a major factor in the breaking of the Big Red's winning streak in Heps t&f meets. The concurrent rise of Princeton's performers has just made the dropoff more obvious; it's not that the Cornell guys are actually running much slower than in previous years, but the rest of the league has improved.

Cornell brought in a hellacious distance recruiting class in '09. Realistically, those guys haven't done very much, and the following distance classes haven't matched them in terms of incoming talent--at a time when other Ivy schools are getting more national-level recruits every year (mostly based, I suspect, on more people's realizing what a great deal Ivy League financial aid is for middle-class families).

Still, the Big Red *do* have one of the better groups of returning xc runners (though not at Princeton's or Columbia's level), and a bunch of HIGH-quality middle-distance men returning; whoever eventually takes over will have some good material to work with.

RoJo's guys have had a lot of success during his ten years at Cornell. Best wishes to him (and them) in future!

Princeton men and women announced their recruiting classes:

http://www.goprincetontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10600&ATCLID=205564204

http://www.goprincetontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=46923&SPID=4279&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205568959&DB_OEM_ID=10600

DISTANCE & MIDDLE DISTANCE (MEN)

Sam Berger from Zionsville Community High School in Indiana, is a highly decorated distance runner. He comes to Princeton having run 4:11.25 in the 1600, and qualifying for the Foot Locker Nationals in cross country. In the fall of his senior year, Berger finished 10th at the Foot Locker Midwest Regional to advance to the national finals. At the national meet he finished 29th with a time of 15:57. Berger then went on to finish fourth in the state of Indiana in the 1600 during the outdoor track season. Demonstrating good range, Berger has also run 50.8 in 400 and 1:54.50 in the 800.

Another Indiana native is Luke Brahm from Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis. In 2010 Brahm was part of the state championship 4x800 meter relay team. Over the next two years he continued to improve, running 1:53.81 in the 800 as a junior and 4:16.98 in the 1600. As a senior, Brahm lowered his personal best in cross country to 15:17 before an illness and injury cut short his season.

Jamie Fehrnstrom out of Miramonte High School in Orinda, Calif., is the Tri-Valley Champion in the 800. In addition, he placed fifth at the North Coast Section Meet of Champions in the 1600. Fehrnstrom comes to Princeton with personal best times of 1:55.91 and 4:15.65, in those events respectively.

A strong cross country runner, Brett Kelly from Boyertown High School in Gilbertsville, Pa., finished third in the state meet. A two-time conference champion in cross country, Kelly won the meet in both his junior and a senior years. He also placed 15th at the highly competitive Northeast regional cross country championships.

A speedy middle distance runner with developing distance skills, Brian Poirier joins the Tigers from Northwest Catholic in Windsor, Conn. Poirier has run 50.2 in the 400, 1:53.41 for 800 and 4:17.68 in the 1600. The 2011 state indoor runner up for 800, Poirier also finished second in the 800 at the outdoor New England championships.

Everett Price out of New Providence High School in New Jersey won the New Balance Emerging Elite Indoor Championships in the 800 at 1:54.13. Price went on to compete at the prestigious Millrose Mile. His time of 4:17.38 at that indoor meet placed him fourth overall. Price will enroll at Princeton with a PR of 4:14.96 in the 160.

Another solid cross country runner with strong middle distance credentials is David Pugliese from Xavier High School in Middletown, Conn. Pugliese has run 15:57 in cross country, 1:54.66 in the 800 and 2:31.86 in the 1000. Some of Pugliese's top finishes include a seventh-place showing at the Connecticut state cross country open and a fifth-place finish in the 800 at the New England championships.

Michael Sublette from Columbia North High School in Columbia, Ind., is the third member of the Tigers 2016 class of distance runners to hail from Indiana. Sublette finished fifth at the Indiana state cross country championships. He then went on to finish 20th at the Foot Locker Midwest Regional. As a junior he finished 20th at the Nike Team Nationals in cross country. Sublette has PRs of 4:18 in the 1600 meter, 9:11 in the 3200 and 15:18 in 5k/cross country.

DISTANCE AND MIDDLE DISTANCE (WOMEN)

Summer Hanson from Interlake High School in Bellevue, Wash., is a strong all-around athlete. She began her career as a wrestler and gymnast before starting her track career as a pole vaulter. In her final two years of high school she took up middle distance running and quickly acclimated. Hanson became a two-time Class 2A state champion in the 800 meters. She was also third at the state meet in the 400. Hanson's best times include a 57.82 in the 400 and 2:13.08 in the 800.

Birdie Hutton comes to Princeton from Boulder, Colo., where she attended Shining Mountain Waldorf High School. This past spring Hutton set two Class 1A state meet records en route to winning the 1600 and 3200 at the Colorado state championships. She also finished runner-up in the 800 at that same meet. Hutton's personal bests, all set at altitude, include 5:03.76 in the 1600 and 11:18 in the 3200.

A runner with good range, is Sarah Porter out of Santa Margerita High School in Orange County, Calif. Porter has run 2:14.93 in the 800 and was a top-15 finisher at the California Division III State Cross Country meet with a time of 18:35.

A highly-touted distance runner is Maria Seykora from Villanova, Pa. The Academy of Notre Dame product is a three-time Pennsylvania Independent School state cross country champion, and a 2011 second-team all-state cross country runner. Seykora has PRs of 2:12.11 in the 800, 4:33.65 in the 1500, 4:52.44 in the indoor mile, 10:47.21 in the 3200, and 18:30 in the 5k/cross country. Seykora was also on the Pennsylvania state record-setting distance medley during the 2012 indoor season. In addition she finished eighth at the New Balance Indoor National meet in the mile this past March.

A key member of the Pennsylvania state record setting 4x800 meter relay team is Michelle Tracy of West Chester Henderson High School in West Chester, Pa. The relay ran a record time of 8:55.43. Her PR's include 2:12.7, from that record setting 4x800 relay, and 58.56 in the 400.

Cornell's listing of female recruits is up (actually posted last month):

http://cornellbigred.com/news/2012/7/19/WTRACK_0719122657.aspx

Their 21 rookies include the following dozen "potentials" for xc:

CLAIRE DEVOE Portland, Ore./Lincoln HS/College of Engineering

DeVoe had a breakthrough senior year, finishing eighth in the highly competitive Oregon state cross country meet and emerging as one of the top 1500- and 3000-meter runners in the state during the track season. DeVoe comes to Cornell with personal bests of 4:35.11 for 1500 and 10:06.68 for 3000 meters.

ALI FOOTE West Islip, N.Y./Bucknell University/ College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Foote is a transfer from Bucknell. In high school, she was one of New York's best cross country and distance runners, with personal bests of 4:47 for 1500 and 10:15.39 for 3000 meters.

[HALLE HEIDEN San Francisco, Calif./The Urban School of San Francisco

Not listed in the official release (but appearing on Cornell's preliminary roster), Heiden is credited with a 2:16 for 800 meters.]

ANN HERMAN Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury HS/College of Arts and Sciences

Herman led her Pennsbury teammates to the 2011 state cross country championship with an outstanding third-place individual finish, and she went on to qualify for the Nike Cross Country Nationals as an individual, where she finished a terrific 42nd. Herman has a track personal best of 10:21 for 3000 meters and was among Pennsylvania's best in the distance events as well.

SARAH HOLL Maple Glen, Pa./Upper Dublin HS/College of Arts and Sciences

The 2011 bronze medalist at the Pennsylvania state meet in the 1600, Holl was among Pennsylvania's best middle distance runners and cross country runners. She comes to Cornell with a personal best of 5:02 for 1600 meters.

DINA IACONE Sewell, N.J./Washington Township HS/College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Iacone is among the premier distance runners in the mid-Atlantic and has proven to be among the best cross country runners and distance runners in New Jersey the past two years. A New Jersey state Group champion in both the 1600 and 3200, Iacone has personal bests of 4:55 for 1600, 9:57 for 3K, 10:30.57 for 3200 and 17:18 for 5000 meters on the track.

CAROLINE KELLNER West Windsor, N.J./West Windsor-Plainsboro South HS/College of Arts and Sciences

Kellner is a two-time qualifier for the prestigious Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships and has been among the best in New Jersey in both cross country and track throughout her high school career. The 2011 New Jersey Meet of Champions runner-up in cross country, Kellner has personal bests of 4:59 for 1600, 9:57 for 3K, 10:29.80 for 3200 and 17:13 for 5000 meters on the track.

KATE MCCORMICK Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua Academy/College of Human Ecology

A key member of the standout cross country and track program at Canandaigua Academy, McCormick was also among the best steeplechasers in New York state and qualified as an individual for the New York state meet indoors in the 3000 meters. McCormick has personal bests of 10:26 for 3K and 7:07 for the 2K steeplechase.

MEGHAN MCCORMICK Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua Academy/College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

McCormick has been among the most versatile and accomplished runners in New York state throughout her high school career. A state qualifier in track, she also helped lead her high school team to national prominence in cross country. A Nike National Cross Country Nationals individual qualifier, Meghan has personal bests of 4:38.15 for 1500 and 10:03 for 3000 meters.

KRISTEN NIEDRACH Medford, N.J./Shawnee HS/College of Engineering

A New Jersey Group State Champion indoors in 2012 in the 1600 meters, Niedrach has run 5:01.56 for 1600 meters. A potential steeplechaser, she is a relative newcomer to competitive distance running as she was also a standout soccer player in high school.

MAGGI SZPAK Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs HS/College of Human Ecology

A key part of Saratoga's top seven that finished second as a team at Nike Cross Country Nationals, Szpak is a rapidly improving runner on the track, finishing just her second season in 2012. She has personal bests of 4:42 for 1500, 10:02.65 for 3K and 7:05 for the 2K steeplechase.

BORI TOZSER Homer, N.Y./SUNY-Cortland/ College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

A transfer from nearby SUNY-Cortland, Tozser was a key contributor in cross country for the Red Dragons as a freshman and won the Division III ECAC title in the 3000 steeplechase, with a fine time of 10:50.25. She has also run 4:46 for 1500 meters and 10:20 for 3K.

Cornell has posted an early xc roster (55 women strong):

http://cornellbigred.com/roster.aspx?path=wcross&

Presumably there will be some walkons joining the ten frosh listed; CU is also projecting ~16 sophs on the roster.

No men's group listed yet--they're probably waiting until Nathan Taylor finishes coaching USVI at the Olympics. Unclear what the effect of RoJo's departure will be, and no official word on his replacement, as near as I know (except it *won't* be Artie Smith, women's xc/distance coach). One distance guy, Connor Herr of Shawnee, NJ(2:01/4:20/9:23), is listed among the few names (so far) on DyeStat.

Brown also has their incoming freshmen up on the roster... http://www.brownbears.com/sports/m-xc/2012-13/roster

heps man wrote:

Brown also has their incoming freshmen up on the roster...

http://www.brownbears.com/sports/m-xc/2012-13/roster

Thanks for link--looks like they've got some solid middle-distance guys coming in.

The release states that Ed Roskiewicz is leaving Princeton. Does anyone know where he's going.

Cornell has announced RoJo's replacement:

http://cornellbigred.com/news/2012/8/17/MTRACK_0817120023.aspx

I *did not* expect this...I thought they could go for a much higher-profile hire. (Though I don't know how much money is available for this assistant's position--that makes a difference, obviously.) I can say that their other recent "low profile" hire--their throws coach, Megan Johnson--certainly seems to have brought them considerable success: Cornell is solidly competitive in the throwing events, in a league that has several *excellent* throwing squads.

If Zeb is really one of Robert's (and JK's) guys, you have to wonder whether this will be "more of the same," or whether Zeb--about whom I know absolutely nothing personally--will bring a different personality (I suppose that's almost certain) and/or training to the position. Will JK be out of the picture, or still "manipulating" (a term used by others, and an overstatement, in my opinion) from behind the scenes?

Probably Cornell's most pressing question, actually, is not whether Lang will upgrade the men's distance program immediately--hard to do, in that conference, and Cornell wasn't terrible to begin with, especially in middle-distance--but whether he will hit the ground running in the recruiting department. You have to wonder whether his predecessor--knowing he'd be leaving--was making any of those vital junior-year contacts with "potentials," or whether Mr. Lang will have to start from zero (which could be tough!).

Anyway, Nate Taylor seems to have a pretty good eye for coaching talent, so he must be confident that his new coach brings a lot to the table. Best of luck to Zeb Lang and the Cornell program in coming years!

Thanks for the link.

Any more frosh rosters?

Brown women's xc roster (with frosh) also up:

http://www.brownbears.com/sports/w-xc/2012-13/roster

Ditto Dartmouth's women (not men):

http://www.dartmouthsports.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=11600&SPID=4698&SPSID=48768&KEY=

No PBs listed on roster info for frosh, but some names should be familiar to followers of The Sport...