TSR Collaboration
May 3, 20204 min
Seeing double? Don't worry, so is everyone else. This round brings two Oregon legends head-to-head in a thrilling Sweet 16 matchup.
Thus far, top-seeded Raveyn Rogers has looked unstoppable in the Red region. She earned over 80% of the votes in the first two rounds, taking down Phoebe Wright and Neely Spence-Gracey. As for Jordan Hasay, she almost did not make it this far. After an easy victory in the first round over Jazmine Fray, Hasay barely made it past Emily Sisson in the second round, garnering only 51% of the votes.
Despite both being from Oregon, these two athletes were quite different during their collegiate years. Rogers was a single-event specialist (although often dropped down to the 400 meters). She won five national titles in the 800 meters, plus one in the 4x400 relay. Those events were the only ones she ever ran at NCAA's, but she ran them quite well.
Hasay, on the other hand, did just about everything. She was one of the best cross country runners in the country (three top-three finishes) and earned 18 All-American honors across seven events. She has two national titles in two different events (3k and mile) as well.
Rogers was more dominant in one event, but Hasay could do it all.
It’s going to be a popularity contest for this matchup. Both Allie Ostrander and Dani Jones are multiple-time NCAA champions, Ostrander three times and Jones four times. They each have too many All-American finishes to count on one hand (or even two hands for that matter).
Ostrander’s NCAA titles come from her steeplechase success, whereas Jones was dominant across multiple distances including cross country, the DMR, the 3000 meters and the 5000 meters. Jones holds the NCAA #6 all-time best mark in the mile (4:27) and the NCAA #9 all-time best mark in the indoor 5k (15:17). As for Ostrander, she holds the NCAA #6 all-time best mark in the steeplechase (9:37) and one-upped Jones in the indoor 5k (15:16) with the NCAA #8 all-time best mark.
Head-to-head at National Championships, Jones has placed higher than Ostrander twice and both of those times were when Jones won gold medals (2018 cross country and 2019 outdoor 5k). On the other hand, Ostrander has placed higher than Jones twice, both times at the cross country national meets (2015 and 2017).
These two ladies are very similar athletes. Ostrander’s strength is clearly evident when she jumps over barriers and runs through water. Jones’ obvious strength is her finishing kick and extensive range over distances from the 800 meters to the 6k on grass.
As we get down to the nitty gritty, these matchups begin to get better and better...and much harder to predict. This matchup is a great example of that with two of the biggest names from the past decade.
Matthew Centrowitz comes in as the underdog #8 seed after upsetting #1 seed Lawi Lalang in the Round of 32, a matchup that seemed to favor Centrowitz because of his current popularity. Looking ahead, Centrowitz may be able to use his current stardom to push past #4 seed Morgan McDonald. He will definitely have his work cut out for him here given McDonald’s comparable popularity and recent NCAA dominance.
Despite Centrowitz’s stellar pro career, his collegiate resume equates to his April Anarchy seed. Centrowitz was able to claim the 1500 meter NCAA outdoor title in 2011 as well as become a seven-time All-American with the Ducks, showing off his ability to get himself towards the front when it mattered most.
As for McDonald, he had exceptional cross country success coupled with underrated track prowess. Like Centrowitz, he was All-American seven different times with two of those honors coming at the NCAA XC Championships (2016, 2018). However, McDonald’s four NCAA titles outweighs Centrowitz’s one. What makes that all the more impressive was the fact that McDonald captured all four of his titles in his final academic year at Wisconsin.
Again, the current popularity and stardom for both of these men will most likely alter the voting in some form or another. This matchup will play with the minds of voters because of Centrowitz’s larger popularity, despite being the lesser seed.
Stanford’s Sean McGorty survived another round and upset yet another collegiate legend in Michael Saruni during the Round of 32. McGorty also took down #2 seed David Kimani in a lopsided affair.
Given that he has had a much more recent collegiate career, McGorty has garnered a lot of votes thanks to his name recognitions and streak of consistent success dating back to high school.
With Chris Solinsky up next for McGorty, do not be surprised if voters choose in a similar fashion. However, it will be much tougher for McGorty to advance. Solinsky not only has a great collegiate resume, but he has plenty of notoriety as well.
Chris Solinsky, a 2007 graduate from the University of Wisconsin, was a five-time NCAA champion and 14-time All-American (three of which were at the NCAA XC Championships). Solinsky, a tall and broadly built competitor, was the epitome of an athlete able to excel in both cross country and track.
From 3000 meters up to the 10,000 meters, Solinsky was always the man to beat and was able to position himself incredibly well in most of his races. McGorty, who was still a very accomplished and successful collegian, will surely have his work cut out for him in this round.
A one-time NCAA champion and 10-time All-American, McGorty was also able to finish in the top 25 at three NCAA XC Championship meets during his time with the Cardinal. He was also able to graduate with impressive all-around PR’s of 3:53 (mile), 7:48 (3k), and 13:24 (5k).
Can McGorty continue his Cinderella story and pull off yet another upset? Or will Solinsky be too much to handle?