2019 D2 Nationals Preview: 10k

WOMEN

If your name isn’t Caroline Kurgat, then winning the 10,000 will be a very difficult task at the National Championships. Kurgat, the senior from Alaska Anchorage, has been on an absolute tear the last couple of seasons. She is near unbeatable in championship races, winning 11 out of the last 12. The UAA veteran is the defending national champion in this event, and she even owns the DII national record of 32:08.09 which is also the NCAA’s #1 fastest time.

These accomplishments may have you betting on her like MJ’s Bulls in the ’90s, but in sports, we all know that anything is possible. Let’s take, for example, the New York Giants upsetting the undefeated 18-0 New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. All season long, New England had the better players, coaches, and statistics. Of course, on a single day, anything can happen. In this field of women, there can be multiple “Giants” who are capable of taking down the ultra-favorite (Kurgat).

Leah Hanle of Mount Olive was the runner-up to Kurgat last year at the 2018 outdoor national meet. Hanle is a heavy hitter and a consistent All-American. She has some very strong recent success by adding a bronze medal to her name at the Indoor Championships last winter. This season, Hanle has posted the NCAA’s #2 time of 34:09.11 (which is also her PR).

Another great threat to Kurgat is Alexa Shindruk of Central Washington. The senior finished just 13th last year in this event last year, but is looking for a different result in 2019. So far, the added motivation is paying off as she owns the #3 fastest time in the NCAA with a 34:25.41. She has a huge chip on her shoulder with a shot of redemption on the line. Could the woman with the most to prove beat what some are calling the greatest of all-time?

While looking at the rest of the field, Gina Patterson of Grand Valley State, Ida Narbuvoll of U-Mary, Eileen Stressling of Azusa Pacific, and Malena Grover from Adams State are the other athletes to break the 35:00 barrier. Jessica Gockley of Grand Valley State has also run 35:00 this season. All of those marks are their personal bests and give them a chance to run for an All-American spot this weekend.

The GVSU women, like always, will have the advantage of being able to work off of each other in this race. Patterson and Gockley are experienced on the championship stage and are more than capable of finding themselves on the podium.

It would also be a poor idea to overlook women like Grover and Stressling who have always kept themselves relevant on a national stage that is stacked and headlined by a few select stars. While they may not threaten for a national title, they are more than capable of sticking with a fast pace. That should benefit them should Kurgat decide to keep the race honest.

However, on the flip side, this is a race that will likely be slowed down due to the humidity. It’ll be interesting to see who can stick around long enough to potentially scare Kurgat.

So sure, Caroline Kurgat does have the accomplishments to back it up, but with great competition from these women, anything is possible on race day.

Final Predictions

1. Caroline Kurgat (Alaska Anchorage)

2. Alexa Shindruk (Central Washington)

3. Leah Hanle (Mount Olive)

4. Gina Patterson (Grand Valley St.)

5. Malena Grover (Adams State)

6. Eileen Stressling (Azusa Pacific)

7. Jessica Gockley (Grand Valley St.)

8. Ida Narbuvoll (U-Mary)

MEN

With four out of the top five finishers in last year’s championship race graduating or not competing, there will be a new winner wearing gold. The one man that is returning out of top five? The runner-up, Zach Panning of Grand Valley State. Panning is looking to win his first ever individual title in this event. With star Sydney Gidabuday of Adams State opting to run the 5k/1500 double instead, Panning is the clear favorite. Not to mention his time (28:30) is almost a minute faster than the next competitor.

With all this being said, there are new and hungry challengers who want exactly what Panning is chasing. The teammates from Colorado Mines, Ben Schneiderman and Ricardo Ocampo, have had terrific seasons - posting the #3 and #4 times in the NCAA of 29:25.71 & 29:30.04. They will look to work together during the 25 laps in order to make a title run.

The other big name in the event who has a chance at gold is Marcelo Laguera of CSU-Pueblo. Marcelo had an All-American outing last year as he finished 7th with a time of 30:19.15. Since then, he has made huge improvements, dropping his time all the way down to 29:25.15. The 2018 cross country national champion has the next fastest time after Panning, and may benefit from the heat which will slow things down over the 6.2 mile affair.

Some other names that should be looked at and watched throughout the race include Tom Goforth and Ryan Talbott, both from Saginaw Valley State. They come in with the #5 and #7 fastest times this year. They both had killer performances at Bucknell earlier this season, and Goforth looks like a steady senior capable of producing on the big stage. I think this is going to be the perfect field for him to compete in.

Stetson Rayas from Dallas Baptist has put together a strong season of his own and has continued to improve this year. He has the #6 fastest time coming in this year and has been a fresh face at the top of the collegiate ranks in recent seasons.

Jack Mastandrea (Charleston (W.V.)) and George McCartney (Malone) come in with the #8 and #9 fastest times this year. McCartney will be competing in his first ever national meet while Mastandrea will look to improve upon his 13th place finish in the 5000 from this past indoor season. If you're looking for sleeper picks that haven't always dominated headlines, these are two good names to watch out for...

Zach Panning could run away with this title, but do not be shocked if it is someone completely different in this exciting race. There are a handful of strong talents in this field that deserve plenty of respect.

Final Predictions

1. Zach Panning (Grand Valley State)

2. Marcelo Laguera (CSU-Pueblo)

3. Tom Goforth (Saginaw Valley)

4. Ben Schneiderman (Colorado Mines)

5. Ricardo Ocampo (Colorado Mines)

6. Jack Mastandrea (Charleston (W.V.))

7. Ryan Talbott (Saginaw Valley)

8. George McCartney (Malone)