Welp. That's it. We're finished. All of our D1 rankings have been posted. As I'm sure you all know, I am incredibly proud of the work that this team put in to make this happen. We weren't perfect, and we likely had some oversights here and there, but I feel strongly that we brought an unmatched level of analysis to the table. Don't worry though, we're not letting that die down just yet! We'll have a Group Chat article coming later today (maybe tomorrow?) to review and recap our XC Top 25 teams. Still, outside of that lone article, where do we go from here? Admin Absence As some of you may know, your TSR Admin (me) will be taking a two week hiatus from the site to travel overseas to Africa starting tonight. This, of course, was expected. Over the past month, our team has been preparing content and working on a handful of other things so that TSR can run smoothly while I'm gone. Just know that despite having other contributors take control of site content while I'm gone, there are certain configurations and typical site features that won't be available during my absence. Mainly, this just means that the "News" section on the HOME page won't be updated until I get back and that our Weekly Briefing email will also be delayed until I return. A few of the articles you read while I'm away will still be edited, but there might be some others where the writing style looks or feels different. There may even be a word out of place here or there. Even so, I'm confident that the work we publish will still be high quality. We're not anticipating any issues over the next two weeks, but just be patient with us if something comes up. Most of the team is new to this, but we don't anticipate there to be any issues. Content You Can Expect Get pumped! Our Preseason D2 XC Top 10 teams are on the way! Those are expected to begin in the next couple of days. Additionally, we also have D2 Recruit Rankings (top five) that are being wrapped up and edited. Those will likely come in the next week or two... Don't worry D3, we didn't forget about you! We have a couple of articles in the works that also still need to be edited. Assuming all of that is reviewed and properly set up, those will also be posted over the next two weeks. Admittedly, D1 content may be a little sparse when you consider all of the other content that we have ready. Still, we are hoping to have a few articles here and there scattered throughout our ARTICLES page with some D1 discussion. Just hang tight on that! Other Projects We are rapidly working to bring you new projects each and every day. One of those likely won't be released until the end of September, but stayed tuned to the site for more on that... * * * That's all I've got for now! As always, we greatly appreciate your continued support. We have grown to an unprecedented level over these past few months and it's all because our outstanding readers have spread the word about us. For that, we are forever grateful. Stay tuned. More is on the way. You Loyal Admin, Garrett Zatlin The Stride Report

When legendary head coach Joe Piane stepped away from Notre Dame in the spring of 2014, he left the Irish with a lot to be proud of. The men's team was coming off of four consecutive appearances at the Cross Country National Championships and they had produced All-American studs such as Jeremy Rae and Martin Grady. Meanwhile, young, promising pieces such as Jacob Dumford, Tim Ball, and Michael Clevenger were slowly developing into valuable scorers. However, the post-Piane transition period wasn't as easy for the men as it was for the women. The Notre Dame men failed to qualify for the Cross Country National Championships in the subsequent fall and the firepower that had once been a staple of their program had eroded. Over the next few years, the Irish were plagued with old fashioned bad luck. Injuries became a difficult aspect to manage and the lack of experience became even more apparent, especially with veterans like Tim Ball and Michael Clevenger choosing to use their final few seasons of eligibility elsewhere. Simply put, the men from South Bend had developed significant challenges while the women were continuing to thrive under the tutelage of Coach Matt Sparks. However, in 2016, a decision was made to give Coach Sean Carlson full reign over the men's middle and long distance groups. The coaching split between the men and women was a strategic move meant to give the men's program more attention while sustaining the already tremendous results the women had been producing. Of course, the major obstacles weren't going to disappear overnight. Many of the men were undertrained in terms of mileage and the quick departure of established veterans left many of the youngsters in the program without a clear direction. When we spoke to Coach Carlson over the phone, he explained that most of the 2016 season was simply attempting to "salvage" whatever fitness they had. In his first season with the men, Coach Carlson's group finished 14th in the Great Lakes region. It was the worst regional finish for the Fighting Irish in recorded history with regional results prior to 2000 unable to be found. * * * Over the next few seasons, Carlson would slowly construct a new culture within the Notre Dame program. It was a culture that would be committed to excellence, long-term growth, and the willingness to buy-in to a common goal. "Before every practice, you can hear the guys blasting ACDC's It's a Long Way to the Top in the locker room. It acts as a reminder that this is a process and that we can always be better." Fast forward to December of 2017. Fans around the country were still coming down from the high of another exciting cross country season and were preparing for an uneventful winter break. Outside of the early season opener at Boston, no one was expecting to see any notable results. Jacob Dumford, however, had other plans. At the Blue and Gold Invitational, a small meet with only a handful of teams filling the Loftus Center, Dumford would solo 2:21 for 1000 meters. It was a result that seemingly came out of nowhere and would rank among one of the fastest mid-distance performances for December in the NCAA history. Suddenly, Notre Dame had life. The rest of the indoor season would remain relatively quiet until the 2018 Alex Wilson Invite which was also on Notre Dame's home track. It was there that the Fighting Irish would throw down a monster time of 9:28 in the distance medley relay, shocking the country and forcing fans of the sport to take notice of what the Irish had in their arsenal. Dumford had given his team some stability on the leadoff leg while Tulsa transfer Elijah Silva provided some much needed experience on the 800 leg. Yet, what was maybe the most peculiar piece of this surprising relay was the true freshman who Carlson had opted to put on the anchor. I am, of course, referring to Yared Nuguse, the 4:06 high school miler who had been tasked with bringing home an All-American finish in the second collegiate season of his career. At the 2018 Indoor National Championships, Nuguse was given the baton alongside high-level stars such James West, Neil Gourley, and Grant Fisher. However, the true freshman seemed completely unphased by the talent surrounding him. Instead, he thrived in the high-pressure situation, splitting 3:57 and out-kicking Grant Fisher en route to a stunning runner-up finish behind Virginia Tech. After a breakout performance, things calmed a bit during the outdoor season. There were no relays for Notre Dame's distance group to take part in and Elijah Silva had completed his eligibility. Still, the duo of Dumford and Nuguse kept fans intrigued when it came to the 1500. Although neither man made it to the national meet, it was clear that Dumford had given the Irish someone to lean on while younger stars developed into low-sticks with exciting potential. Carlson even described Dumford as an integral part of the program's rebuild. "He had three different coaches during his time at Notre Dame...he could have not bought into what we were doing, but he did. He is a great example of how this process can pay off if you believe in it" Yet, maybe the most exciting part of Notre Dame's rebuild wasn't even the men that had been on their roster. Instead, it was the men who would be on their roster... * * * In the summer of 2018, Notre Dame finalized a superstar recruiting class which consisted of national champions, high school elites, and countless All-Americans. Within the span of a year, Carlson was able to sign recruits that out-shined other top-tier recruiting classes from powerhouse programs such as Stanford, Oregon, and Colorado. Still, there were many critics who questioned whether or not this team could truly be successful during the fall. Could Nuguse be more than just a miler? Will they have enough firepower? Can these superstar recruits have an impact in their first collegiate season? Can the rest of this roster provide value in the scoring? The answer to all of those questions was a resounding "YES". Yared Nuguse proved to the doubters that he could be a reliable low-stick on the grass while freshman Danny Kilrea added crucial scoring potency to the front of their lineup. However, it wasn't just Nuguse or the star freshman who helped Notre Dame reach another level. In fact, it was the sophomores and juniors who made tremendous leaps in fitness. Guys like Kevin Salvano, Anthony Williams, and Andrew Alexander acted as the backbone of Notre Dame's lineup for most of the season, bringing consistency and stability to a team that was still relatively young. As a result, Coach Carlson's squad would become legitimate national contenders. After a 5th place finish in the Pre-Nationals White race, the Irish would go on to pull off a massive upset over Syracuse to win the ACC team title. It was one of the most shocking results of the 2018 season. The men from South Bend would continue to thrive in the postseason, easily earning an automatic qualifier to Nationals where they would eventually finish 14th overall. Within the span of two years, the Irish had gone from being the 14th place team in the Great Lakes region, to the 14th place team in the country. The consensus was in. Notre Dame was back. * * * It was clear that the Irish had made a dramatic turnaround under Carlson's guidance, but with expectations now higher than ever before, Notre Dame's next step forward had the potential to be even more impactful. It felt apparent to fans around the country that Notre Dame would pursue the distance medley once more during the 2019 indoor season, especially with Nuguse returning to the track at a higher level of fitness. However, with veterans like Dumford and Silva no longer in the lineup, Notre Dame had serious gaps that they needed to fill. That, however, was also obvious to Coach Carlson who was able to bring in DePauw transfer Samuel Voelz, a 1:50 800 meter runner with DIII All-American credentials. And the 1200 leg? That would go to freshman Dylan Jacobs, the Footlocker national champion who had redshirted the 2018 cross country season. Edward Cheatham would return to the 400 leg that he ran on during the 2018 indoor national meet. The Irish would go on to enter a stacked DMR lineup at the Alex Wilson Invite just like they had in 2018. Despite the overall inexperience, they were able to pull off yet another major upset, this time over the Wisconsin Badgers with Nuguse edging Oliver Hoare at the line. The final results would read 9:26.10 to 9:26.24 which were the #2 and #3 fastest distance medley's ever run in NCAA history. However, Notre Dame's plans became a bit more unclear after the ACC Championships where Nuguse soloed a 3:57 mile to win the conference title. After a performance like that, many fans around the country, including ourselves, suspected that Nuguse would attempt the mile/DMR double at Nationals. We were wrong. Nuguse would end up scratching the mile to ensure that he would be completely fresh for an all-in effort on Friday night. It was yet another small, but subtle sign that individual goals played second fiddle to team aspirations. And as fate would have it, the result was awe-inspiring. In one of the most dramatic distance medley finishes in recent memory, fans across the country were treated to a rematch of Nuguse and Fisher on the anchor leg. Nuguse would split 3:55 and pull away from Fisher in the final few meters of the race to secure the national title for Notre Dame. * * * When we asked Coach Carlson what was next for Notre Dame, we didn't get the answer we were expecting. Specific goals like winning national titles, earning podium spots during cross country, or running record-breaking times weren't mentioned. Instead, he preached patience and emphasized the importance of the process. "We want to focus on getting better and living by our values. We can't lose sight of who we are or how we got here. Progression isn't always linear so we want to focus on sustained success and our daily culture. If we do that, the results will follow" The Irish still have a long way to go before they reach the level that every team dreams of attaining. Consistency, after all, is a key characteristic of what makes teams successful. However, with yet another jaw-dropping recruiting class on the way, it's become apparent that Carlson's message is resonating with his athletes. They want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. * * * When Notre Dame climbed the stage to receive their ACC Championship trophy, a familiar guitar rift echoed by bagpipes could be heard playing in the background. For the Fighting Irish, it was an all-too common sound. The song? It's a Long Way to the Top

Phew. We're still catching our breath from the week-long release of our Preseason Individual XC Rankings. Let me just say that I am extremely proud of our team. They did an outstanding job with their research and analysis all while consistently meeting extremely tight deadlines. For that reason, they are getting some much-deserved time off over the next week as they mentally recharge and prepare for our future plans. But don't worry, we still have content coming your way this week! As we begin to reach the latter portion of the summer and inch closer to the upcoming cross country season, I thought it would be a good idea to keep everyone updated as to what our next steps are. Here are a few things you should know... D3 content is coming soon One of the biggest requests we've received over the past year has been to expand our coverage to D3. Welp, you asked and we listened. Starting this fall, The Stride Report will begin posting D3 content! In fact, you can actually expect some D3 content coming your way in the very near future... However, please keep in mind that we have very limited man-power in that area right now. While I'm sure many of us at TSR will help produce articles and analysis, it's important to know that our D3 team is essentially a one-man show at the moment. In other words, it will take time for us to fully integrate D3 coverage into our site on a consistent basis. If you have any interest in covering D2 or D3 men's and women's distance running, let us know! You can follow the instructions for applying by clicking this link . Team rankings are in the works We just wrapped up our individual rankings, but it's never too late to start thinking about our team rankings! Our D1 XC Top 25 teams will be coming your way very soon! Early August is currently our goal in terms of a release date. But don't worry, we haven't forgotten about D2! Because our D2 group is significantly smaller than our D1 team, we are giving them extra time to build out their Top 10 (or Top 15) teams as well as their Top Five recruiting classes. This means that you can expect the last portion of our D2 rankings to come at the end of August or early September. Oh, and speaking of which... Your TSR admin is going to Africa...for two weeks Believe it or not, there are a lot of other things in this world outside of TSR (sometimes I forget about that). In a little over a month, I will be taking a two week trip to Africa which means I will be away from the site for the first half of September. I'd like to tell you that I am doing it to train with Kenyan elites or to help volunteer, but I am truthfully going for site-seeing purposes and to be your general tourist. So...what does that mean for you? Ideally, nothing. The idea is to have content prepared ahead of time so that my absence doesn't result in a total stoppage of articles and site updates. Our man John Cusick (and maybe a couple of others) will help TSR run smoothly while I am overseas. Our plans for the site are still up in the air, and it is very possible that there could be days where we simply don't post anything at all. But don't worry, we aren't just giving up on the site. We'll make sure to send out another reminder about this as we near the end of August. Final notes If you haven't already, be sure to check our Preseason XC Individual Rankings and our D1 Recruit Class Rankings . We have a ton of content, great analysis, and plenty to debate about in each of those ranking releases. We also encourage you to check out our TRANSFERS page! You can find all of this year's transfers in one place. It is constantly being updated (we know we still have a few more names to add) so be sure to give it a few visits to stay up to date. If you're on social media, feel free to give us a follow us on Twitter and Instagram ! We report a lot of our news on there well before we can update the site. It's also a great way to stay updated on certain articles we post and for you to give us feedback as well as share your thoughts. Speaking of feedback, if you haven't already, let us know how we're doing! Go to our FEEDBACK page and fill out a few questions (anonymously) about your experience with the site (and what you would like to see from us). We read all of your responses. Finally, if you ever have any general comments, requests, suggestions, questions, concerns, or pictures of your dog that you want to send us, our inbox and DM's are always open. It may take some time for us to respond, but we will always get back to you! As always, your continued support and willingness to spread the word about TSR is beyond appreciated. Stay tuned, we have plenty of great stuff on the way...

Today was an unusually busy day for us at TSR as we were consistently breaking more news than we could tweet. Below, we highlighted some of the major headlines from earlier today and discuss the potential implications that each news story has... Morgan McDonald Signs with Under Armour The idea of McDonald signing with Under Armour has been flying around the rumor mill for quite some time now and those familiar with the situation understood that this was a real possibility as early as last month. In retrospect, the decision makes plenty of sense when you consider that Under Armour is the official sponsor for Wisconsin's athletic programs and because McDonald's agent (Stephen Haas) recently joined Under Armour as a coach. Not only that, but Under Armour has equipped their running division with a large budget in an attempt to expand their reach and improve already increasing sales. The professional training group District Track Club, which is based in Washington DC just outside of Under Armour's headquarters in Baltimore, was one of the first major recipients of this new funding. Now, with Morgan McDonald under contract, UA can market an elite distance running talent and make him the headline star of their respective brand as we enter an Olympic year. Taryn O'Neill Transfers from Villanova to Northern Arizona Much like McDonald, rumor of O'Neill's transfer has been floating around for quite some time. The rising sophomore now joins former teammates Rachel McArthur and Lauren Ryan as recent women's distance runners to transfer out of the Villanova program. O'Neill had a phenomenal freshman year with the Wildcats, running a huge personal best of 9:13 for 3000 meters after finishing 6th at the BIG East XC Championships and 15th at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships. The ladies of Northern Arizona have quietly assembled a very strong team for 2019. They bring back six of their top seven from last year, all of which were considered freshmen and sophomores. After barely missing NCAA's last fall, the women from Flagstaff will be hungry for revenge and will likely rally around the newest weapon in their arsenal. Amanda Vestri is Expected to Transfer out of Iowa State Earlier today, The Stride Report confirmed that Amanad Vestri, a 15:55 5k runner and a top scorer for Iowa State, was exploring transfer options. The potential move is a crushing one for the Cyclone women who just recently lost middle-distance ace Jasmine Staebler to UNC and All-American Anne Frisbie to graduation. With Vestri now gone, Iowa State will need to lean on Cailie Logue, a rising junior who put together a masterful string of performances during the 2018 cross country. However, with two of their top three scorers from last year no longer with the team, it is hard to imagine that Iowa State will make much of an impact on the national stage (if at all). As for Vestri, where she ends up this fall could potentially swing the balance of power in the NCAA. After all, it feels like anyone could win the women's team title this year. Colorado, New Mexico, Stanford, BYU, Arkansas, and maybe NC State are all teams who could make some serious noise with another low-stick on their team. Many of these programs may be tapped when it comes to scholarship money, but Colorado and New Mexico may have some available slots after losing a couple of veterans. Regardless, Vestri's move will be a big one. Sean Carlson Promoted to Head Coach of Notre Dame XC At first glance, it may not seem like a big deal. Carlson was already overseeing the men's team and he had proven this past year that he was more than capable of handling a head coaching role. However, promoting Carlson - whether it was with a raise, title change, or both - further strengthens the already concrete idea that he isn't leaving Notre Dame this summer. After seeing such a mind-boggling turnaround from their men's distance group over the past two years, Carlson was likely an attractive name for potential head coaching vacancies around the country. Promoting him to the official title of head coach, with whatever that may entail, likely keeps Carlson around for the time being. For Notre Dame, that must be a comforting thought, especially with so many high-profile coaching jobs popping up around the country. Jill Miller Leaves Wisconsin for Northwestern The head cross country coach for the Wisconsin women will travel two and a half hours south and maintain the same position for Northwestern - a program that has no men's team. The decision for Miller to take the Northwestern job is an interesting one. The program has limited funding compared to a handful of other programs and faces significantly lesser competition compared to what the BIG 10 holds. Of course, let's not think that Northwestern is a bad program. For the most part, it's a very respectable team that was responsible for developing All-American Aubrey Roberts. The Wildcat women return all but one of their varsity runners from last year's 5th place team at the Midwest Regional Championships. With Miller now at the helm, it is possible that we could see the ladies from Evanston, Illinois make it to Terre Haute later this fall (especially with Iowa State showing vulnerability). As for Wisconsin, what happens with them? They just brought in one of the best recruiting classes in the nation and returned a number of top scorers for this upcoming cross country season. The Badgers recently released an opening for a women's cross country assistant role, so the idea of Mick Byrne taking control of that group is likely out of the question.

Read up on Part One and Part Two here Paige Hofstad: Bigger Gain for UNC or Bigger Loss for Georgetown? In a summer that has been highlighted by exciting transfers and surprising coaching changes, Paige Hofstad's decision to use her final year of eligibility at UNC has been overshadowed. The Hoya turned Tarheel has been battling injuries throughout her college career, but she is certainly capable of putting up some impressive numbers such as a 16:04 5k and a handful of strong cross country finishes. Last fall, Hofstad finished 32nd at Nuttycombe, 11th at the Penn State Open, and then 3rd at the BIG East Championships. She later ended her season with a 16th place finish at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships. In other words, she can be a consistently strong scorer for nearly any team in the country. Hofstad leaving the program will certainly not help the Hoyas, but the Georgetown women were going to have to make some serious adjustments in other areas of their lineup if they wanted to battle for a spot to Nationals. Georgetown finished 7th at regionals last year with a varsity group that simply didn't have enough backend talent to keep up with top-tier teams like Penn State, Villanova, and Princeton. However, with Villanova experiencing a handful of departures and the Hoyas returning everyone from last year's team (except Hofstad), Georgetown could potentially be in the conversation for the BIG East title this year. Having Hofstad would have been extremely useful in that quest. Regardless, the talent that Hofstad brings to North Carolina is invaluable, especially for a team that is going through so much change. Despite the ACC being far more competitive, the UNC women showed glimpses of promise this past winter and spring. Their progress was encouraging and it leads me to believe that they'll be better in 2019, even if they lose one of their top scorers in Caroline Alcorta. I'm not saying that the Tarheels will make it to Nationals this year, but having a potential low-stick like Hofstad (or at the very least, a reliable consistent scorer) makes UNC a fun team to watch this fall. The hope is that she can help jumpstart the program for future success in year one of Chris Miltenberg's newest coaching challenge. I think there's an argument for both here, but at the end of the day, giving UNC a spark during this transition period seems more valuable to me in the long-term. Advantage Tarheels. Final Verdict: Bigger Gain for North Carolina Addison DeHaven: Bigger Gain for Iowa St. or Bigger Loss for Boise State? If you're an Iowa State fan and don't know who Addison DeHaven is, then you better keep reading. The Boise State standout is quietly one of the best postseason cross country runners that the NCAA has to offer. In the fall of 2017, he pulled off a miraculous 31st place finish at Nationals to end his season as an All-American. Fast forward to 2018, and the story was similar as DeHaven shattered expectations with another All-American finish (28th) at NCAA's. Having competed in a conference like the Mountain West, it's safe to say that DeHaven has plenty of experience racing against high-level competition. He should be more than capable of handling the BIG 12 conference which holds significantly less depth overall. DeHaven would have been a top five scorer for any team in the country at Nationals over the past two years, so to say that his transfer is a big deal would be an understatement. The value he brings to the table is extremely underrated. Losing DeHaven is going to hurt quite a bit for the men of Boise State, especially since they lose their #2 and #3 scorers (as well as their #6 man) from XC Nationals last fall. Don't get me wrong, the Broncos will still be competitive thanks to guys like Miler Haller, Elijah Armstrong, and Ahmed Muhumed, but the Broncos were going to be far weaker in 2019 regardless of if DeHaven left or not. But DeHaven's arrival to Iowa State? Well, that's a different story. The Cyclones have been one of the top teams in the country over the past two years, consistently returning some of the best scorers in the NCAA. Overall, they're experienced and own depth well beyond seven runners. However, the news of Andrew Jordan transferring out of the program to go to Washington was a massive blow for a team that had so much potential this fall. Jordan was the key complementary low-stick next to Edwin Kurgat who, together, gave Iowa State a lethal 1-2 punch. Without Jordan, Iowa State was in serious jeopardy of not being in the podium conversation. But with DeHaven now in the lineup, Iowa State can field a team that could potentially compete with the Washington Huskies come Nationals. Just when you thought that Martin Smith's group was in trouble, they reloaded with another All-American ace. Final Verdict: Bigger Gain for Iowa State Aneta Konieczek: Bigger Gain for Oregon or Bigger Loss for W. Colorado? One of the best distance runners in Division Two has taken her talents to Eugene after two successful years at Western Colorado. The Polish distance star posted a handful of impressive times as a Mountaineer, earning marks of 4:29 for 1500 meters and 10:01 for the steeplechase. However, Konieczek's ability to emerge as a key cross country scorer for the Oregon Ducks is what makes her transfer so important. The rising junior was 19th at D2 XC Nationals as a sophomore and 7th in the same race as a freshman. Even though she'll be moving up to a more competitive level, she has clearly proven that she can be an valuable scorer and a potential low-stick. Despite her outstanding talent, Konieczek's arrival will likely not be enough to overcome Oregon's significant lack of scoring options. The Ducks lose three All-Americans as well as veterans Susan Ejore and Phillippa Bowden from last year's team, leaving only two returners for the 2019 season. There's no doubt that Konieczek will significantly help Oregon this fall, but even if she ends up as the best runner in the NCAA, she still wont be enough to keep the Ducks as a top team in the NCAA. However, just like Oregon, the ladies of Western Colorado also lose a handful of their top scorers from last year's D2 National Championships. Their top two runners from last year (who were both All-Americans) have used up their eligibility. The same can be said for their #5 and #6 runners. When you remove Konieczek from last year's team, Western Colorado loses four of their top five (which equates to three All-Americans) as well as their #5 and #6 runners...which is exactly what happened to the Oregon Ducks. Both of these teams are powerhouses in their respective divisions, but Oregon is often considered as the Mecca of collegiate distance running. To say that the Ducks won't be competitive on the national stage just sounds ridiculous, especially with Konieczek now on their squad. In the long term, both of these teams will be totally fine. Still, not having a low-stick that you were expected to have is never great. Final Verdict: Bigger Loss for Western Colorado