NAU-4th and all returning next year!!!!!!!!!!!!

Caleb Hoover is my boy.

I would have to say they are the surprise of the meet. Anybody pick them to finish top 4? I sure didn't. I though that having lost Diego Estrada, they were done. Honestly I thought they were overated everytime the polls came out. When they wond the Mountain, I thought BYU and Colorado let them win. They shut my mouth. NAU is the real deal.

Props to the coaching staff at NAU for the workd they're doing in Flag.

Four of top five from Colorado also returning, and that's not counting Moussa.

big sky conf. rules wrote:

Northern Arizona fourth today. They were ranked 10th coming in, but the interesting thing is that they are probably the youngest team in the field.

They had 2 freshmen, 2 sophomores and 1 junior in their top 5. Can we say they may be one of the favorites to take it next year, or perhaps even the year after that?

The fros Futsum Z and Nathan Waitz both ran very well and continue to improve as the season goes on. Futsum placed top 50, Nathan top 100. These two will lead NAU for the next 3 years. Very promising squad at NAU congrats Lumberjacks!!

Yes, next year is going to be a dogfight between these two. Maybe a new prize recruit can tip the scales.

How many does OSU bring back? I know they have some depth on their team, so they wil be favorites until someone knocks them out. NAU probably got lucky today. They had a very good day and slid into the podium. The very same team could place 10th next year.

Futsum Z. Huge fan. All my interactions with the Eritrean community in Indianapolis have been good interactions. Happy to be here, happy to have opportunities.

Cheserek to NAU to follow Futsum?

Colorado is going to be very tough next year. Dowdy was within a second of Theroux who finished 39th today at both Prenats and Pac 12s but blew up today. Add a healthy Moussa and that's a tough 6 guys.

the big cheese wrote:

Cheserek to NAU to follow Futsum?

Colorado is going to be very tough next year. Dowdy was within a second of Theroux who finished 39th today at both Prenats and Pac 12s but blew up today. Add a healthy Moussa and that's a tough 6 guys.

Cheserek to NAU would be a dream. Although I doubt that will happen. He surely has all the big schools after him. NAU is too small with less resources to atract Cheserek. If Futsum chose NAU it was because his brother was already there.

Colorado as well as OSU have lots coming back next year. NAU looks like the 3rd best team next year, but much can happen in a year. Let's see what happens.

The only resources they need are a full-ride scholarship, or maybe a half-scholarship and some need-based and academic aid if Chesarek is a solid student. Who knows.

Futsum and Cheserek obviously got along well during their high school years.

ROOOOOMANNNNN

The coaches at NAU are doing something right. Shrader struggled to make the team at Oregon last year then transfered to NAU and beat all of the Oregon guys today. Similar turn around for their third man, McElroy, who transferred from Oklahoma State. NAU seems like a good place for an aspiring distance runner given the altitude, amazing trail system and solid program. The podium finish could help with their recruiting efforts.

Why isn't NAU a cross country powerhouse in the first place?

living in Flagstaff wrote:

Why isn't NAU a cross country powerhouse in the first place?

Looking at the results over the past 10 years, I would say they are. They have been producing good teams and good runners for a very long time. They are one of the top 10 programs in the country I would say.

CU's chances will turn on Hurysz, and whether he can be a top ten runner. He has been suffering the last month with hamstring problems (according to Wetmore), and that hurt him today. But without a "low stick," a team has little chance to win.

the big cheese wrote:

Cheserek to NAU to follow Futsum?

Colorado is going to be very tough next year. Dowdy was within a second of Theroux who finished 39th today at both Prenats and Pac 12s but blew up today. Add a healthy Moussa and that's a tough 6 guys.

I say it is... wrote:

living in Flagstaff wrote:

Why isn't NAU a cross country powerhouse in the first place?

Looking at the results over the past 10 years, I would say they are. They have been producing good teams and good runners for a very long time. They are one of the top 10 programs in the country I would say.

Yes, they are. I thought of them as a top-10 team, somewhere in the 5/6/7 range. Of course, Iona both blew up and apparently did not have a chance as injuries hit them in a way that was not included in people's expectations. (see wejo's remarks). OSU is losing some guys again, but have a number back also; in addition they have a habit of importing mid-career top runners which can add one or two at or near the top.

Wisconsin is losing their top four, so they will probably be the weakest that they have been since the 1990s; Byrne will have to work miracles. Note that if one of the top transfers (like Collins) had gone to Wisconsin it would have been a really big battle; a finish of 25th scoring would have led to a score of 72-73 (e.g.,32 24 Jake Hurysz).

Say does anyone post the college commitments like dyestat used to before they shut down? That was a very interesting list. If not maybe we can ask one of the running websites to start one?

Wow, UNM will also bring back their top 7 and they add back 7:49 3K guy Ross Millington. The mountain region will be scary good next year.

IJY wrote:

Say does anyone post the college commitments like dyestat used to before they shut down? That was a very interesting list. If not maybe we can ask one of the running websites to start one?

This would be a good request for Letsrun...How about it Letsrun? It seems like it would be an easy enough feature to add.

NAU's results for the last 6 years:

2007: 4th

2008: 6th

2009: 4th

2010: 9th

2011: 14th

2012: 4th

NAU is always under ranked. Heins is doing a great job and is probably the most underrated coach in the country.