Is Oklahoma State going to be in the mix this year?
Is Oklahoma State going to be in the mix this year?
Supertramp wrote:
Is Oklahoma State going to be in the mix this year?
Pretty sure they are the favorites. Should breeze through the Big 12 and the Midwest regional.
Iowa State will crush them. They may make it out of the regional in 2nd.
FU! Furman is definitely a podium team this year.
I'll throw in one surprise just for fun in 4th place. Go Irish!! Note that the Irish recruited quite well this year - see link below.
1. NAU - bringing back all but 1, including Baxter, Day, Lomong, etc. Plus Flotrack (see below) gives them the #1 recruiting take in the US. If they arrive healthy and fit in November, then I think it would be a major upset if they are not first. Lumberjacks will be running under a bit more pressure to perform than usual.
2. Stanford - they simply have too many arrows in the quiver not to get on the podium.
3. BYU - see comment above for Stanford.
4. Notre Dame - once in awhile there always seems to be a surprise podium team that is ranked somewhere in the top 15, but has the race of their lives and ends up on the podium. I'm biased - and hoping its the Irish.
2018 Distance recruiting class rankings (I don't think it includes foreign athletes):
Love the Notre Dame pick! They did pick up some great recruits this year and seem to be trending in the right direction.
I think you are correct, it is "NAU's to lose". But it's very, very hard to just win once, let alone 3 years in a row. We were saying he exact same thing about Colorado when they were on their quest to win 3 in a row, and then we all though it was a sure thing when they decided not to redshirt Saarel that year. Despite that, it does seem hard to imagine anyone really has the firepower to compete. Alabama honestly might have the best chance, it just depends how good the guys they are bringing on are.
I agree with your Alabama assessment. Everyone will reconfigure their podium picks if Alabama does well at Wisco or Pre-Nats or another major race. My Notre Dame long-shot selection might have to wait a year if they redshirt their top recruits. I'm ready for XC season to start!
And Alabama even though they couldn't get out as a team in a weak region? LOL
Alabama was third in an OK region; it is not the West or Mountain, but certainly better than the South Central or Mid Atlantic was last year.
And they went on to 14th at Nationals. These disparities in performance were due to the makeup of their team. Three foreign studs, and then a drop off to to guys who finishing near the back at NCAAs.
They have addressed this issue. Their top three, who all had great track seasons return and they add very good Steeper from Kenya, who may even break into their top three. Their 5 guy is a Kenyan 1:49 800m runner. This is not a rumor, they are listed on the roster.
With the 800m runner it might be a stretch for them to win (unless it is one of those years where the winning team is over 100 points), but they should podium. It is not a lock, but failing to be top three would be a disappointment for Alabama.
My bad - I somehow overlooked Alabama getting 14th.
Nau
Iowa State
Stanford
Colorado State
Mantistobogganmd wrote:
Nau
Iowa State
Stanford
Colorado State
I think Colorado State faded from like 5th to 9th or something crazy like that over the last 2K. Still ran great but was really looking like they were going to score big, and almost beat Colorado even (that would have been insane).
They lose 3 seniors from last year's team I believe.
CSU was in 3rd at 8K, in the last 1k Mock went from 10th(ish) to 170 and was not a scorer. They do lose some Seniors but only 1 scorer from their 9th place team. They do add a solid class including a 8:49 two-miler. They are good enough to be top 10 again, Podium? We shall see.
1. NAU
2. Stanford
3. BYU
4. Portland
5. Bama
6. Colorado
7. CSU
8. Notre Dame
9. Wisconsin
10. Arkansas
Iowa State has to be there.
Cyclone fan wrote:
Iowa State has to be there.
I hope they go for it, but honestly think they will pull a NAU and redshirt the house.
Nathan Rodriguez is gone and wouldn't have eligibility to redshirt.
Not sure but I think Dan Curts can Redshirt.
Pollard would race this year, but already burned his RS.
Jordan, Kurgat, Greder, and Langat all RS this season making the team clear favorites next year.
I hope they don't do this, but like NAU proved this might be the way to go if they want the best chance at the national title.
Here is an older article that somewhat describes what I just said.
https://www.thestridereport.com/articles/cross-talk-the-iowa-state-dilemmachickenug wrote:
Cyclone fan wrote:
Iowa State has to be there.
I hope they go for it, but honestly think they will pull a NAU and redshirt the house.
Nathan Rodriguez is gone and wouldn't have eligibility to redshirt.
Not sure but I think Dan Curts can Redshirt.
Pollard would race this year, but already burned his RS.
Jordan, Kurgat, Greder, and Langat all RS this season making the team clear favorites next year.
I hope they don't do this, but like NAU proved this might be the way to go if they want the best chance at the national title.
Here is an older article that somewhat describes what I just said.
https://www.thestridereport.com/articles/cross-talk-the-iowa-state-dilemma
They are all in this year and will be in the mix next year as well. Podium team. Curts is a key piece and he's a redshirt senior. They gain little by redshirting the team this year. Will probably redshirt top Freshmen but that's it.
Mahavishnu1500 wrote:
Is Martin Smith the best "old-school" coach in the country? I'm astonished he continues to get such incredible recruits after the trail of destruction he leaves everywhere he coaches. Correct me if I'm wrong...
He’s certainly the best at throwing clipboards at runners and throwing fits when displeased.
I think that’s what people really mean by “old school.”
chickenug wrote:
1. NAU
2. Stanford
3. BYU
4. Portland
5. Bama
6. Colorado
7. CSU
8. Notre Dame
9. Wisconsin
10. Arkansas
I like the Notre Dame pick, but they're going to struggle to get into Nats for the first time in like 5 years, let alone get top 10 if they make it.
irish fan! wrote:
chickenug wrote:
1. NAU
2. Stanford
3. BYU
4. Portland
5. Bama
6. Colorado
7. CSU
8. Notre Dame
9. Wisconsin
10. Arkansas
I like the Notre Dame pick, but they're going to struggle to get into Nats for the first time in like 5 years, let alone get top 10 if they make it.
Just imagine how much better these teams could be on 40 miles per week.
UNC for the win #dontsleep. Mcdonough magic