Nebraska and Creighton got last place in the Big Ten and Missouri Valley Cross Country Championships respectively, in both the men's and women's divisions. Does anybody know of a state that has worse D1 cross country teams, specifically, and worse distance running, generally?
If so, please advise:
Wyoming Men aren't anything special. Also Nebraska is home to some decent D2, D3, and NAIA school that has solid reps.
At those schools you are a Title IX puppet. Going to UNL or Creighton, the 13th grade for the entire state of Nebraska, involves some cheap boozey nights, watching the Huskers go 7-4 then celebration of winning the Holiday Inn bowl.
At a smaller school you can get some baby nationals time and be an individual not just a stereotype.
Also David Adams is from UNL and I think he got top 10 at the National XC meet last year.
In Nebraska's case, I think that it is due to moving in to the Big Ten. They cannot be competing for the top in track and field (which I think that they really want to do) and build up a good enough distance program to compete in the Big Ten in distances/XC. They will probably stick with middle distance runners who might score more easily.