TSR Collaboration
Dec 29, 202011 min
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Written by Maura Beattie
After not qualifying for the NCAA XC Championships in 2019, the Cowboys have reloaded with healthy veteran returners and a freshman class that checks off numerous boxes in terms of roster needs. When looking at Oklahoma State's recruiting class, Coach Dave Smith has landed a talented group of Texas youngsters, two men from out west, a strong competitor from England and a standout rookie from Australia.
Ryan Schoppe headlines this recruiting class as he was a consistent Texas star during his high school career. He has tremendous range all the way from the half-mile to the 5k in cross country. Truthfully, based on his resume, it's hard to figure out what events he'll focus on when it comes to the indoor and outdoor track seasons.
On the track, Schoppe has run times of 3:52 (1500), 4:07 (1600), 8:52 (3200) and 14:27 (5k track). He has also run 14:14 for 5000 meters on the grass. Not only that, but the Oklahoma State runner boasts personal bests of 4:00 in the mile and 8:48 in the 3200 meter from this past summer when he competed in a pair of time trials. He also finished 15th at the 2019 NXN Championships.
As you can see, this guy can do it all.
Schoppe has already proven to be a massively impactful recruit for the Cowboys. He was a consistent top five scorer this past fall on a varsity lineup that is now considered to be one of the best in the nation. The Oklahoma State men didn't have a ton of depth after their top five, so it was huge from a scoring perspective that this freshman standout was as reliable as he was this past season.
Of course, this recruiting class is more than just Schoppe. He'll also be joined by Jonas Price and Christopher Middleton-Pearson in the longer distances.
Price arrives in Stillwater, Oklahoma from Washington where he has run 8:57 for 3200 meters and 14:50 for 5000 meters on the grass. He's also a solid steeplechase runner (owning a strong personal best of 6:24 for 2k) and boasts a mile PR of 4:10 from this past summer. Price was also rumored to have run a 4:08 mile via a time trial earlier this year.
As for Middleton-Pearson, he has recorded marks of 9:09 for 3200 meters and 15:02 for 5000 meters on the grass. Together, Price and Middleton-Pearson could eventually challenge for a top seven spot in this Oklahoma State varsity lineup as they progress through their time as Cowboys. It may not be this year, but it could be sooner than some people realize.
Will Muirhead and Grant Wilcox are two more distance runners to watch out for. They might not make a lot of noise from the get-go, but their potential to grow will provide them with opportunities to succeed when they are veterans of the program.
Muirhead boasts personal bests of 4:15 (1600), 9:21 (3200) and 14:59 (5k XC). Given his 6:03 personal best for the 2k steeplechase, he could become a key member of the Cowboy's steeplechase crew alongside fellow recruit Jonas Price and upperclassman Ryan Smeeton.
As for Wilcox, he has run comparable times to Muirhead, owning marks of 4:18 (1600) and 9:19 (3200). He has also had the opportunity to compete in a 5k on the track where he recorded a personal best time of 15:10.
We should also expect to see Englishman Kian Davis joining the middle distance contingent at Oklahoma State. Davis has run 1:53 for 800 meters and 3:51 for 1500 meters, but he has also run 30:40 for 10k. Despite having some experience in the 10k distance, one could argue that Davis will likely be more of a more middle distance specialist. He'll be joined by fellow recruit Triston Read who has run 1:54 for 800 meters.
Finally, the last name who we need to mention is Alex Stitt, the Australian distance standout.
Stitt was set to join the Oklahoma State men this past fall, although the pandemic delayed his arrival. Instead, he'll be joining the team during the start of the spring semester and he'll be bringing with him some big-time personal bests.
The 19-year old owns incredible personal bests of 3:47 (1500), 8:10 (3k) and 14:28 (5k). If he is able to translate that fitness to the cross country course, then the Oklahoma State men could better solidify their position as true podium contenders. The extra depth could come in handy, especially if someone in their current top five has an "off" day.
Each of these recruits have shown off their potential in a variety of different ways and will have an ample amount of opportunities to bolster Oklahoma State's historically strong distance program.
With the way that the Cowboys are competing right now, following a successful abbreviated 2020 cross country season, we could expect a couple of these youngsters to put the finishing touches on already-loaded varsity lineup while also preparing for a future that looks to be incredibly promising.
Written by Eric Baranoski
To say that Wisconsin’s freshman class is loaded would an understatement. They have brought in a plethora of top-ranked high schoolers who flat-out crushed (most of) their high school competition prior to joining the Badgers in the NCAA.
Let's begin with Evan Bishop. The harrier from Michigan comes to Madison, Wisconsin with two All-American finishes from the Foot Locker National Championships on his resume, as well as a Michigan state title in cross country.
Bishop has extensive championship experience. He has always been willing to race against the best of the best as evidenced by his multiple appearances at the New Balance National Championships and Foot Locker National Championships.
Given his wildly impressive 5k personal best of 14:30, Bishop should be a “plug and play” kind of guy who can have some kind of role in this varsity cross country lineup as soon as this winter.
The next name who we need to mention is the Canadian Abdullahi Hassan...and my goodness what a talent he is.
Hassan is arguably the most polished runner of this Wisconsin recruiting class as he could have been in contention for a couple of BIG 10 titles on the track during his time as a prep star. With a jaw-dropping personal best of 1:47 (800) and a very strong mark of 3:52 (1500), this Canadian phenom adds lethal speed to a roster that has typically been long distance-oriented.
Let’s not forget that his times put him as the U18 Canadian national record holder for the indoor 600 meters (1:20) as well as the U18 Canadian national record holder in both the indoor and outdoor 800 meters. On paper, he's someone who can contend for a national qualifying spot, as well as an All-American finish, all during his freshman year.
An extremely gifted runner, Caleb Brown committed to the Badgers before entering the transfer portal this past fall. Yes, we know that he is on the transfer portal, but he was on the Wisconsin roster at the start of this year. So, for that reason, he's being factored into these rankings.
Let’s talk about all of the things that Brown has accomplished during his time in high school (spoiler: it was a lot). He was absolutely dominant in the state of Ohio, winning seven state titles either individually or in a 4x800 relay. He only lost twice all season during his senior cross country campaign to Josh Methner (Notre Dame) and Nico Young (NAU), two superstar talents.
Not only that, but Brown also cracked the nine-minute barrier for 3200 meters (twice) during the 2020 indoor season, running a blazing fast personal best of 8:54 to win the Spire Showcase. He finished 3rd at the 2019 NXN Championships, ran 14:51 for 5000 meters this past summer and was the 2019 New Balance two-mile national champion.
With quite the high school career, Brown would have given this Wisconsin roster lethal firepower and a future star that the team could have rallied around. However, it is technically possible that Brown stays with Wisconsin and opts not to transfer.
Joining the three recruits mentioned above is Bob Liking from Illinois. A Foot Locker and NXN national qualifier, Liking also helped his St. Charles Saints teammates capture the state title in a very competitive 3A race which included runners such as Josh Methner (Notre Dame), Tyler Cushing (Illinois), Jake Allen (Kentucky) and Ian Geisler (Iowa).
In his two national meet appearances, Liking placed in the top-25 of each race, showing off underrated consistency and poise against some of the nation's best distance talents.
With a personal best of 14:23 for three miles and plenty of championship experience, one could argue that Liking is the most underrated distance recruit of this Wisconsin class. He has shown that he is better suited for the cross country course and he will hopefully enjoy cruising through the renowned Thomas Zimmer XC Course just off campus.
Speaking of underrated recruits, Oliver Paleen is certainly one of them. The Minnesota native was the first to cross the line at two big cross country meets during his senior year, solidifying his status as one of the better distance runners in the midwest.
His first victory was at the Roy Griak Invitational where he finished in front of current high school superstar Parker Wolfe (who has committed to North Carolina) as well as Emmet Anderson of Staple-Motley (who is currently uncommitted). Paleen's other big win came at the Minnesota state meet which he won despite placing 10th the year before.
To top it all off, the Minnesota native then qualified for the NXN Championships after placing runner-up at the NXR Heartland race. However, his prowess on the cross country course isn’t everything as he has also run times of 4:16 (1600) and 9:19 (3200).
With Mick Byrne's history of development and Wisconsin's identity as a true cross country program, both Paleen and Liking perfectly fit the mold and roster structure that has made the Badgers so great for so long.
Our final name who we need to mention is Nick Hruskoci. Coming from the Hoosier state, he brings times of 1:56, 4:20, and 9:28. Hruskoci has been billed as more of a team player, having been a part of Indianapolis Cathedral’s indoor and outdoor DMR teams. His lead-off split of 3:04 for 1200 meters helped set the tone for his teammates as they eventually took home the New Balance national title on the outdoor oval.
This recruiting class has everything that you could want if you're Wisconsin. It's deep, features guys with extensive championship experience, is loaded with established stars and seems to match Wisconsin's cross country identity.
The Badgers may have lost a handful of top talents over the past two years, but don't be surprised when they continue to have major success in the BIG 10 and the NCAA.
Written by Michael Weidenbruch
When prospective student-athletes are looking to take their talents to the collegiate level, they often search for teams that have a history of success, a strong culture, top-level coaching and good academics to top it all off.
Princeton checks all of those boxes.
In recent years, the Tigers have won Ivy League team titles on both the cross country course and the track, as well as Mid-Atlantic regional titles in cross country which have led to NCAA Championship berths. Part of that success has to do with great coaching while the other part of it has to do with excellent recruiting.
When we look at this freshman group of Princeton distance recruits, Matthew Farrell is the clear headline star given his impressive slate of personal bests. Farrell has run 3:57 for 1500 meters, 4:15 for the mile, 8:27 for 3000 meters and 14:25 for 5000 meters on the track. He was 13th at the 2019 Foot Locker National Championship, a result that truthfully speaks for itself.
Farrell's consistency and star power can't be overstated. This is a deep recruiting class that is joining a deep roster, but it would come as no surprise if he was able to emerge as a scorer in the Tiger's varsity seven whenever they next toe the line. He's someone who seemingly gets better the longer the racing distance is, so his move to the NCAA may actually benefit him in the long term.
The next recruit who we need to mention is the aptly-named Joe Fast who has arrived on campus as a two-time Canadian Provincial Cross Country Champion in Ontario. However, despite his success on the grass, Fast is just as strong when he drops down in distance. He owns a personal best of 3:52 for 1500 meters and has made the Canadian U20 1500 meter final twice in his young career.
Championship experience is always beneficial for an athlete entering the NCAA and Joe Fast should feel perfectly comfortable toeing the line for those kind of races. It also doesn't hurt that he is a true three-season threat given his credentials.
Let's transition to talking about Jordan Kaplan who comes to Princeton from just down the road in Monroe Township, New Jersey. He will be looking to reignite the Tigers' 800 meter crew which has been a bit on the quieter side since Noah Kauppila graduated a couple of year ago.
Kaplan has a 1:52 800 meter personal best to his name and has been one of the top runners in New Jersey for a couple years. He has also run 49.00 for 400 meters, often doubling off of the 800 in the same meet. Keep an eye out for Kaplan on Princeton’s DMR in the next few years. The Tigers already have some talented milers scattered throughout their roster, meaning that a relay lineup which includes Kaplan isn't just possible, but also probable.
Following up on Kaplan’s middle distance prowess, we come to Jack Kenkel. The Colorado native has run 1:53 for 800 meters and while he generally specializes in the shorter distances, he has also run 15:35 for 5000 meters in cross country.
Together, Kenekl and Kaplan can establish a new foundation for Princeton's middle distance group and put themselves in positions to compete for top Ivy League finishes. That, however, will be a challenge as the Ivy League has quietly produced a handful of talented 800 meter runners over the past decade.
However, let's put aside the middle distances for the time being and swing back to the longer distances. This is where things become a bit overwhelming when it comes to elite-level firepower on Princeton's roster.
Jarrett Kirk is a strong all-around distance talent who could fit into a variety of different roles during his time with the Tigers. Kirk has run 4:15 for 1600 meters, 9:07 for 3200 meters and 14:40 for 5000 meters on the track. Kirk has also run 14:40 on the cross country course and is a two-time NXN qualifier.
Funny enough, fellow recruit Anthony Monte is essentially a clone of Kirk if you were to look at their personal bests on paper.
Monte has run 4:15 for 1600 meters, 8:36 for 3000 meters, 9:03 for 3200 meters and 14:39 for 5000 meters on the track. Just like Kirk, Monte’s cross country personal best over 5k is the same as his 5000 meter time on the track at 14:39, just one second faster than Kirk. And, just like Kirk, Monte also has experience racing at NXN, securing a clutch 12th place finish at the 2019 championships.
With nearly identical times, Jarrett Kirk and Anthony Monte should be great contributors towards Princeton’s long distance potential. Their ability to replicate their fastest times on more than just one occasion should not be overlooked. That consistency could come in handy for a team that had a few up-and-down performances during the 2019 cross country season.
The last big-name distance talent who is joining this roster is Daniel O'Brien who boasts personal bests of 4:14 for 1600 meters and 9:07 for 3200 meters. Those are strong times, but those marks aren't necessarily what make him a "big-time distance talent".
Where O’Brien really stands out is on the cross country course as he has run 14:57 for 5000 meters. Not only that, but he has also finished 12th and 7th at the Foot Locker National Championships in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Those finishes show that O’Brien was consistently one of the best high schoolers in the country, and if he can translate that success to the 8k/10k distances of NCAA cross country, then he could become one of Princeton's top scorers in just a few years time.
Rounding out this Princeton recruiting class is Nathan Tavakolian who comes in with personal bests of 8:49 for 3000 meters and 15:43 for 5000 meters (XC). Tavakolian’s times may not be quite as strong as some of his teammates’, but he will at least add valuable depth and be a developmental name who could contribute in the future.
Year after year, Princeton raises the bar with the recruits that they bring into the program. The Ivy League has only become more competitive over the past few years with multiple programs sending their teams to the NCAA Championships.
This class of recruits will be critical in Princeton’s quest to not by only the best team in the conference, but one of the best in the NCAA.
The good news for this class is that they are arguably better than the crop of distance recruits that the Tigers brought in last year (we ranked that 2019 class at TSR #9).
After seeing that group of freshmen have such incredible success during the 2019 cross country season and act as the backbone of Princeton's varsity lineup, we are incredibly eager to see what this year's rookies will be able to accomplish whenever they next toe the line.