In Jay-Z's 2003 release of The Black Album (which went three-times platinum), Hov asked his fans "Can I get an Encore? Do you want more?" in one of the best tracks on his album. Yes, it is one of the best tracks on the album (and I'm not talking about the Linkin Park remix). Don't debate me on this one. If there was any song more relevant to this indoor track season, it would have to be that one. The regular season has come to an end and although we still have Nationals in one week, I can't help but think of all of the talented names that we won't be seeing for the rest of the indoor season. These individuals may not have qualified for the Big Dance, but they did have a lot of great performances that deserve some attention... Cooper Teare (Oregon) When you look at the final NCAA rankings, it may be a little disappointing to see Teare as the First Man Out in the 3000 and five spots away from qualifying in the Mile. With that in mind, we still need to realize that this guy had a phenomenal season. He ran under 4-minutes for the first time in his collegiate career with a 3:59.29 and later followed that up with a 7:53 and a 7:56. Did I mention that all of this was done as a true freshman? The future is bright for Teare and with the performances he's thrown down already, it's tough not to think about what he could do in the future. Of course, the same was said about Matthew Maton who was the last true freshman to run 7:53 or faster (in 2016). At the same time, we don't know for sure if Teare's season is 100% done. Oregon may decide to field a DMR that has him in their lineup... Marc Reinas (Northeastern) The 2017 indoor and outdoor track seasons had plenty of breakout names, but one of the biggest had to be Northeastern's Paul Duffey. As a senior, Duffey threw down times of 1:48, 2:22 (1K), and 3:59. After he gradated, the Huskies were on the look-out for a new mid-distance star. Enter Marc Reinas. Just like Duffey during his senior year, Reinas was at the top of his game this season after opening up with a 1:48.86, improving that time to a 1:48.60 (NCAA #21), and winning the NEICAAA title over an underrated talent in Tyler Gleen from UCONN. Although he ended the season with a 1:49.87, Reinas has to be commended for setting the tone earlier in the season and displaying some impressive consistency. Trevor Guerrera (Sacred Heart) Speaking of mid-distance runners who set the tone early, how about Trevor Guerrera? The Sacred Heart star had a strong indoor season in 2017 with times of 1:48.75 and a 4:09. As we entered the 2018 season, Guerrera began catching some early-season attention with a 4:10, 2:24, and 1:48.41 (NCAA #20), all before the end of January. On top of that, he also earned three wins on the season. Don't sleep on some of the performances that Guerrera could produce during the spring. This season may have just been a precursor for what he could do on the outdoor oval. Addison DeHaven (Boise State) Admittedly, DeHaven didn't run a whole lot more than the 3000 meters this season. He ran an early season 4:08 in the mile, but his focus eventually shifted to the longer distances for the rest of the season. DeHaven would begin his 3K assault with a 7:59 at the UW Invite and improved that time to a 7:54 (NCAA #21). He would follow up on those times with a 3rd place finish at the Mountain West Championships. DeHaven had some great times, but what was most impressive was that his previous personal best was an 8:17 from 2016. After failing to improve upon that time in 2017, DeHaven dropped 23 seconds off of his PR in a single season. He'll return in 2019 as one of the top 3K runners in the nation. Edwin Kurgat (Iowa State) One of the biggest headlines of the indoor track season was hearing that XC All-American Edwin Kurgat had transferred from Tennessee-Martin to Iowa State. Based on his previous personal bests, it didn't seem like Kurgat would have an impact on this Cyclone squad during the track season. Yet, as fate would have it, Kurgat had one of the biggest breakout seasons of his life. Prior to Iowa State, Kurgat had personal bests of 8:29 and 14:27. Now, after just one season with a completely new program, Kurgat dropped a 33 second PR in the 3000 (7:56...NCAA #26) and a 25 second PR in the 5000 (14:03). Kurgat ended the season with two silver medals at the BIG 12 Championships. There are plenty of runners who have breakout years and drop a lot of time. But to drop as much time as Kurgat did with a new coach, new teammates, and new environment is incredibly impressive. Bradley Men We don't give Bradley enough credit. Over the past few years, the Braves have become the next Furman - a small school capable of producing talent that can compete at the highest level of Division One athletics. Taylor FloydMews, a senior, had one of the best seasons of his career with a 4:04 mile as well as a pair of wins. Michael Ward had a huge performance at the UW Invite with a 7:58 (NCAA #36). Daniel Gagne put together a series of clutch mile performances with 4:06, 4:00, and 4:01. By the time Alex Wilson rolled around, Bradley had assembled one of the better DMR's in the nation with a NCAA #19 time of 9:32. They may not have the same big-name status as a Stanford or Oregon or any other Power Five team, but this is a program of the future. Do not sleep on the unknown depth of the Bradley Braves. Ryan Forsyth (Colorado) We've talked about big improvements a lot in this article and Ryan Forsyth is no exception. After winning the Colorado Invite with a 8:11 (at altitude), Forysth clipped off a 13:56 at the Husky Classic and later followed that up with personal bests of 7:56 (NCAA #29) and 13:51 (NCAA #25). In a season where Buffalo stars Joe Klecker and John Dressel were nowhere to be found, Forsyth stepped up big-time and showed that he could be one of the focal points of this squad. He ran big times, earned top finishes, and never had a bad race. Forsyth may have been one of the more reliable and consistent distance runners in the nation this season.

Yesterday, we posted our final SCRATCH TRACKER projections and explained a few qualifying scenarios that could happen for a handful of individuals in our Entry Enigma article. For some of those projections, we were spot on. For others? Not so much... Here a few key scratches and entries that you should be aware of. You can find the entire list of entries here. Virginia Tech is all in for the Mile In yesterday's article, I stated said I "expected at least one of these two Virginia Tech guys to enter the 800". That, however, was not the case... Maybe the Hokies feel that the 800 is too close to the DMR or that they can execute a race strategy together. Whatever the reasoning is, their decision to opt out of the 800 comes as a surprise. When we look at the 800, Patrick Joseph is ranked 8th in the nation and Neil Gourley is ranked 2nd. Granted, both of these guys are also ranked in the top 10 for the Mile, but they are leaving themselves less upside in regards to the team score by putting all three men in one event. It's an interesting move, but I am also not ready to doubt Coach Ben Thomas who has turned Virginia Tech into a powerhouse program on the track. What that means for the 800 field If it's not already obvious, the Virginia Tech scratches means that two new names enter the 800 field. Air Force's Michael Rhoads (NCAA #17) and Mississippi State's Dejon Devroe (NCAA #19) will be the next two men in. Josh Kerr was the 18th ranked in this event and would have been eligible to qualify if he did not scratch. He will be racing the Mile/DMR double this weekend. Even if he didn't have the DMR, I still believe that he would have only pursued the Mile. Sean Tobin got in, just not the way we thought he would Prior to the scratches, Mississippi's Sean Tobin was ranked 20th in the nation and needed four individuals ahead of him to not enter the mile. Initially, we had the Virginia Tech duo of Neil Gourley and Patrick Joseph scratching in favor of the 800. That, however, did not happen and two less spots were available for Tobin. If only Knight and Trouard had scratched from the event, then not even Sam Worley would have made it to the national meet. Instead, Mick Stanovsek would have been the Last Man In. Luckily for Worley and Tobin, there were three guys who had to decide whether or not they would attempt the difficult Mile/3k double. Of those three (Davis, Rockhold, and Saarel), only Rockhold chose to enter in both events. Both Davis and Saarel have decided that they will be completely fresh for the 3000. Worley and Tobin need to send some flowers and a thank you card to Davis and Saarel. In the end, Sean Tobin was the Last Man In, just like we had projected...but not in the way that we expected. Curious why no one scratched out of the 3000? It's because there's no reason to do so... A friend of mine sent me a text last night and was surprised that no one scratched from the 3000 meters. But honestly, why would they? The 3000 is the very last open event of the meet which means that if anyone's sole focus was the 5000, DMR, Mile, or even the 800, then they would have already completed those events prior to the 3000. In a way, the 3000 is a race where no one has anything to lose for many of the guys who are doubling. Dillon Maggard saved Connor McMillan's qualifying hopes We mentioned yesterday that despite being ranked 2nd in the nation for the 5000 meters, Maggard may scratch out of the event for the DMR/3000 double. Sure enough, that was the case as Maggard chose to defend the validity of Utah State's converted DMR time from altitude. In the mean time, BYU's Connor McMilan may be the most dangerous name in this field despite being the Last Man In. No one in the top 16 of this event (to my knowledge) has run consecutive 5K's this season AND improved their time. Admittedly, it will be difficult to a run third 5K and still perform at the top level. However, if anyone is capable of doing it, it may be McMillan... EDIT: We incorrectly stated that NCAA's would be taking place in Albuquerque, New Mexico (the location of the USA Championships). NCAA's will actually be run at College Station (Texas A&M).

All of the speculation is done and over. We now know who the top 16 names in each event will be for the National Championships in March. However, the full entries for each field are still yet to be decided. With the possibilities of scratches and scheduling conflicts for doubles, there are still plenty of guys outside of the top 16 that may find a spot in New Mexico in two weeks. Here are some of the key entries, scratches, and scenarios that we think are worth talking about... THE STRIDE REPORT's 2018 SCRATCH TRACKER & OFFICIAL PROJECTIONS Dillon Maggard is ranked 2nd in the 5000, but may not run it... Prior to this past weekend, Maggard was set to run the 3000 and 5000 at Nationals. However, the remarkable performance of his DMR at the Mountain West Championships (where they ran 9:34 for a converted 9:24) has changed a few things. With the 5000 scheduled just 40 minutes before the DMR, Maggard may have to make the tough choice between individual glory or potential All-American honors for three of his teammates. With the 3000 meters scheduled as the last event of the entire meet, Maggard will still have an opportunity to pursue his individual goals. This scenario leads me to believe that he'll scratch out of the 5000 meters and go all-in for the DMR. Congrats Connor McMillan, you might be in... Before this weekend, McMillan sat at 17th in the NCAA with a 13:48 flat. Understanding that he would need a faster time to qualify for Nationals, McMillan went out and threw down a 13:46.71 to secure the win at the MPSF Championship. That would have been the 16th fastest time in the nation. Unfortunately for McMillan, Andy Trouard's conversion of 13:42 was enough to push McMillan back to the 17th spot. Despite the clutch performance, it appears that McMillan might be ending his season early...or not. If Maggard does end up choosing to pursue the DMR/3000 double, McMillan needs to send the Utah State star a thank you gift... Should that happen, Georgetown's Jonathan Green would have gone from the Last Man In to the First Man Out in a span of three days... The Mile field is a race of 2nd chances We are anticipating a lot of scratches in this Mile field...allow me to explain. The first man to scratch out of the Mile will be Justyn Knight. He will most likely pursue the 3000 and 5000 double. He is currently ranked 4th in the Mile. The next question mark will be on Patrick Joseph who is ranked 7th in the nation. He recently just ran a season best of 1:47.47 in the 800 this past weekend. For most of his career, the 800 has been Joseph's best event and it's also the event he is the most experienced in. The mile field will be crowded with unfamiliar names and guys who have built their reputation by running the mile. With the 800 field so wide-open in terms of All-American spots, the 800 may be the best option for Joseph. Joseph's teammate Neil Gourley is in a similar situation. Unlike Joseph, Gourley has been labelled as a miler for most of his career. However, after pulling off the upset win at ACC's with a 1:47.04 (NCAA #2), it's tough to argue that Gourley should pursue the Mile where he is ranked 10th. I expect at least one of these two Virginia Tech guys to enter the 800. It would be the best way for the Hokies to maximize their team points. At this point, three names have scratched from the Mile. This means that Mick Stanovsek (17th), Andy Trouard (18th), and Sam Worley (19th) are all eligible to qualify for Nationals should they choose to enter. Of those three names, the only one that I don't anticipate will accept an entry is Andy Trouard. He will most likely pursue the 5000/3000 double. This leaves one more spot open to the 20th ranked miler. In this scenario, that would be Mississippi's Sean Tobin. But wait, there's more! As of right now, we have Tobin listed as Last Man In for the Mile, but there's a real possibility that one or two more guys behind him also end up qualifying. Jonathan Davis (Illinois), Cole Rockhold (Colorado State), and Ben Saarel (Colorado) are in a bit of a predicament right now. They can attempt to run the difficult (but doable) Mile/3000 double, or they can focus on just one of those events. At the moment, The Stride Report has all three of these guys attempting this double, but I'm not convinced that our prediction will hold up. Davis is still young and inexperienced, Rockhold opted out of this double last year (in favor of the 3000), and Ben Saarel got underwhelming results when he tried this double a year ago (8th in the Mile, 15th in the 3000). Let's just suppose that two of these three names decide to scratch the Mile in favor of the 3000. That would mean Matthew Fayers (Oklahoma State) and Blake Haney (Oregon) would qualify for Nationals. If all three scratched the Mile, then Texas A&M's Alex Riba (NCAA #23) would be the Last Man In. Even Oregon may not know what to do with their DMR yet The scenario I mentioned above leaves room for Blake Haney to qualify for Nationals in the Mile. That, of course, is still a bit of a stretch and far from a guarantee. If Haney ends up not qualifying, he will most likely be on Oregon's DMR completely fresh and free from the duties of doubling. He would most likely be on the 1200 leg while Cooper Teare, who also may not qualify in an open event, would be on the Mile leg. With just the 800 leg left to be filled, Andy Powell may decide to bring one of his other guys like Austin Tamagno to complete the relay. That lineup gives Oregon a completely fresh DMR. However, Powell may decide that he wants Stanovsek or Prakel to double back from their duties in the Mile. With team points on the line, he may favor a more veteran lineup which is why we have Stanovsek and Prakel doubling in our SCRATCH TRACKER.

ACC Championships 800 In what may have been the most exciting field of the meet, we got to see Neil Gourley (Virginia Tech) pull off the upset win with a HUGE time of 1:47.04 (NCAA #2). The veteran miler was able to drop down in distance to defeat stars who have built their reputation in the 800. Runner-up in this race was John Lewis (Clemson) who came up with a super clutch performance of 1:47.14 after failing to break 1:49 in three previous attempts. He now sits at 5th in the NCAA rankings. Robert Heppenstall (Wake Forest), Patrick Joseph (Virginia Tech), and Avery Bartlett (Georgia Tech) rounded out the top five with strong performances of 1:47.19, 1:47.47, and 1:47.58. Overall, these are some solid top 10 performances. Mile The Virginia Tech men continued their winning ways by taking the top two spots in the mile. Vincent Ciattei (Virginia Tech) defended his title from last year with a 4:03 while teammate Diego Zarate finished runner-up in 4:04. Jacob Dumford (Notre Dame) rounded out the top three with a time of 4:04. 3000 & 5000 Unsurprisingly, Justyn Knight secured the double gold with times of 8:02 and 13:50. Throughout his gold medal pursuits, he was able to bring along a slew of teammates to medal positions as well. Including Knight, Syracuse placed seven men within the top eight scoring spots. It was an impressive showing of depth. As expected, Peter Seufer (Virginia Tech) and Nahom Solomon (Georgia Tech) placed 3rd and 4th, respectively, in both events. Neither will be making the trip to Nationals, but they've put together some notable performances this season. DMR The Virginia Tech men went to work and handily defeated a deep field that included Notre Dame and a strong Clemson squad. Neil Gourley's anchor leg helped secure the win and ensure that the Hokies' time would finish ahead of Clemson's time from the first heat. BIG 10 Championships 3000 & 5000 Oliver Hoare (Wisconsin) went to work with back-to-back wins in the 3000 and 5000 meters. His times of 8:11 and 14:05 were enough to best Illinois phenom Jonathan Davis in the 3000 and Indiana frosh star Ben Veatch in the 5000. DMR A huge final leg from Iowa's Michael Melchert helped pull off the upset for the Hawkeyes to secure a title in the relays. BIG Sky Championships It wouldn't be fair to focus on just one event at a time for this meet. The Southern Utah men had terrific performances with Mike Tate winning the 3000 and Kasey Knevelbaard winning the mile. Thunderbird senior Matthew Wright had a pair of solid performances as well. However, the MVP of the meet had to be (and was) Northern Arizona's Andy Trouard. The NAU senior was runner-up in the mile (4:12), 6th in the 3000 (8:41), and 1st in the 5000 (14:20). Remember that this monster triple was completed at altitude. Trouard's time of 14:20 in the 5000 converts to a PR of 13:42 which now places him 10th in the country. It looks like the 5k/3k double will be the plan for Trouard as he enters Nationals in two weeks. Mountain West Championships 800 Four years. Four titles. Utah State's Clay Lambourne threw down a 1:48.74 at altitude to edge out Air Force's Michael Rhoads who ran a time of 1:48.83 for second. With conversions, Lambourne and Rhoads now sit at 16th and 17th in the nation for the 800. Rhoads must hope that one of the two Virginia Tech men opt out of the 800 and enter the mile. Mile Josh Kerr (New Mexico) and Cole Rockhold (Colorado State) battled it out in one of the better matchups of the weekend. Kerr locked his MW title with a 4:00 while Rockhold finished with a time of 4:02. With conversions, Kerr's time would be around 3:55 low while Rockhold's converts to an NCAA #8 time of 3:56.85. So where does this leave Rockhold now? Does he pursue the mile or the 3000? Or both? He'll be one of the more interesting names to watch as we analyze the entries. 5000 Grant Fischer (Colorado State) pulled off a huge upset of Dillon Maggard (Utah State) to secure the Mountain West title. The times appear to show that the race was tactical which makes the win even more impressive for Fischer. He doesn't have the experience of racing a shorter distance like the mile while Maggard does. DMR Through fault of their own, the DMR performances in this race were heavily criticized by fans around the nation after some sources argued that New Mexico's time of 9:33 converted to a "collegiate record" of 9:24. Obviously, altitude conversions can't be validated in the record books, but it does make you think twice before dismissing this talented Lobos squad. Utah State was runner-up in this race with a 9:34. MPSF Championships Mile The timing system actually recorded a time in this one as BYU's Abraham Alvardo and Oregon's James West both finished the day with times of 4:02.70. Alvarado was given the overall. Jeff Thies (Portland) finished third on the day with a 4:03. 3000 Rory Linkletter (BYU) and Steven Fahy (Stanford) led five others under the 8 minute mark in this one. Linkletter recorded the win in a 7:54 with Fahy close behind, also with a 7:54. Unfortunately, neither of those times will be enough to qualify for NCAA's (at least not right now). 5000 The race was bittersweet for Connor McMillan (BYU). The Cougar senior knew he needed a fast time to qualify for NCAA's, so he improved his rank among the collegiates with a winning time of 13:46. That, however, was not enough after this weekend as he currently sits at 17th in the nation. McMillan must pray that at least one individual scratches from this event if he wants to get in. Unfortunately, as of right now, I don't see that being the case. SEC Championships 800 Devin Dixon (Texas A&M) secured the SEC title with a win over Mississippi State's Dejon Devroe, 1:49.32 to 1:49.73. Mississippi State's Marco Arop struggled in the prelims and failed to make it to the finals. For someone who has been racing so well all season, it was unusual to see him have an off day. Still, it's just one event and it's best to have that out of the way before Nationals. Mile Sean Tobin (Ole Miss) was able to out-kick Alex Riba (Texas A&M) for the win with a time of 4:07.14. Riba finished the day with a 4:07.18. 3000 Much like the 3000 at the MPSF Championships, we saw a fast race up front that unfortunately did not lead to anyone entering entering the top 16 times. The pace was established by Kentucky's Jacob Thomson and later taken over by the Arkansas duo of Cameron Griffith and Jack Bruce. The Razorback duo finished the day with times of 7:54 to go 1-2. Alabama's Vincent Kiprop put together another solid performance with a third place finish in 7:55. He's beginning to look like a great All-American pick in the 5000 once Nationals rolls around. Jacob Thomson (Kentucky) and Gilbert Kigen (Alabama) rounded out the top five with times of 7:55 and 7:59. Neither of these individuals are set to qualify in the 3000 meters, but they are both within the top 16 of the 5000 meters after this weekend. 5000 After a gutsy front-running attempt in the 3000, Thomson was rewarded for his aggressive racing tactics by securing the SEC title in an impressive time of 13:49. He was able to fend off Alabama's Gilbert Kigen once again who also ran a time of 13:49. This is an encouraging pair of finishes for a duo that will most likely face off in a loaded 5000 field at Nationals. Kigen's teammate Vincent Kiprop was third overall in 13:50 while Tennessee's Zach Long ended his day with a 13:56. DMR Arkansas was barely able to hold off a hard-charging Mississippi team, 9:37.01 to 9:37.08. There's a lot to like about both of these relays as we enter Nationals in two weeks... BIG 12 Championships 800 Bryce Hoppel (Kansas) remains undefeated on the season with a winning time of 1:47.20. Is there anyone in the NCAA right now who is as tactically sound as Hoppel is? Right now, I'm willing to say no... Charles Jones of Texas Tech was runner-up in this one with a time of 1:48.66. That time places him out of the top 16 with an NCAA #22. Unless a handful of scratches occur, he will most likely not be making the trip to NCAA's. Rounding out the top three was Texas star Sam Worley with a time of 1:48.71 (NCAA #23). Worley's best bet for Nationals right now is in the mile where he currently ranks 19th. It will be VERY close, but if enough scratches happen, he could potentially sneak into Nationals. Based on certain qualifying times in other events, it's possible that it happens. Roshon Roomes (Iowa State) was the final man under 1:50 in this race with a time of 1:48.97. Mile Alex Rogers (Texas) continues his underrated season of strong performances with a winning time of 4:02. He was able to separate himself from Iowa State's Dan Curts who was 2nd in 4:05. 3000 Hassan Abdi (Oklahoma State) once again bested Iowa State's Edwin Kurgat in another battle. Abdi secured the BIG 12 title with a winning time of 8:02.22 while Kurgat was runner-up in 8:02.44. Andrew Jordan (Iowa State) was the bronze medalist with a time of 8:04. 5000 Andrew Jordan's third place finish in the 3000 was overshadowed by his strong run in the 5000 where he earned the top spot in a time of 14:03.05. Teammate Edwin Kurgat finished right next to him in a time of 14:03.50. BU Last Chance Meet 800 The top finisher in this race was former Georgia 800 runner Christian Harrison in a time of 1:46.83. However, it was high schooler and Oregon commit Josh Hoey running a mind-blowing time of 1:47.67 to CRUSH the high school national record of 1:49 previously set by Robby Andrews in 2009. It would be impossible for me to put into words just how impressive that time is. If Hoey was running collegiately, that time would currently be 11th in the NCAA and he would have qualified for Nationals...as a high school senior. Oregon's future is bright with this incoming recruit. Behind Hoey was Dylan Capwell (Monmouth) who finished the day with a time of 1:47.86 which puts him back into the National qualifying picture at 13th overall. D2 star Ackeen Colley (American International) ran an excellent time of his own with a 1:47.86, making him the favorite to win it all at Nationals. Despite an excellent season of strong performances, Northeastern’s Marc Reinas ended the day with a 1:49.87, ending his National Championship qualifying hopes. Still, it was a solid season for Reinas who had big shoes to fill after superstar Paul Duffey graduated last year. Mile While a massive group of pro’s attempted to go under the 4 minute mark, it was Jeremy Hernandez (Ramapo) who made history. Hernandez became the first D3 runner in NCAA history to dip under the 4 minute mark with a time of 3:59.01. Is this guy the next David Ribich in Division III athletics? It sure seems like it… The Iona duo, Chartt Miller and Liam Dee, ended their seasons with times of 3:59.99 and 4:00.69, respectively. In his final “big” attempt at a sub-4 minute mile, Oregon commit Brodey Hasty had to settle for a 4:04.98. Regardless of his time, the Ducks have to be thrilled to have him and Hoey entering their program. Just look at what the Ducks have done with Teare and Brown in their first season of collegiate competition. The rich are only getting richer… 5000 In his final attempt at a qualifying mark for Nationals, Jacob Choge (Middle Tennessee State) took the win in a solid time of 13:54. It time won’t be enough for him to get into Nationals, but it is arguably the best performance of his indoor racing career.

By: John Cusick 800 Once again, we will start with the 800 meters. With the current entries, Robert Ford (USC) is the fastest qualifier amongst the field at 1:49.16. Ford is the defending champion and will look to defend his title whilst qualifying for the national meet. Carlos Villarreal (Arizona) sits 2nd in the MPSF rankings and is the only other competitor under 1:50 entered in the race. Villarreal will also look to improve upon his national position at this discipline. He is currently ranked 15th in the nation for the mile with a 3:57. Justin Janke (Washington State), Riley Kelly (UCLA), Michael Merchan (CSUN) and Brandon McGorty (Stanford) are all under the 1:51 mark and round out the rest of the field. Hari Sathyamurthy (Stanford), David Graham (BYU), Collins Kibet (Arizona) and Brian Smith (Stanford) finish out the top ten of the entered athletes. Kibet of Arizona has a PR of 1:46, but has struggled to reach a mark like that in recent years. Prediction: Robert Ford (USC) -He’s run 1:47 before and he’s hungry for more than just a conference ring. Him and Villarreal will battle it out with Ford edging Villarreal at the finish line. Mile As we dive into the mile, when we look at the entry list and compare it to the performance list it’s a bit of a letdown. Ben Saarel (Colorado) comes in with the fastest entry with his 3:57.46. Two others join him under the 4:00 barrier with Jeff Thies (Portland) at 3:58.39 and Blake Haney (Oregon) at 3:59.01. Those two will most likely challenge Saarel for the title. Eduardo Herrera (Colorado, 4:00.88), John Carter Blunt (UCLA, 4:02.89), and Thomas Coyle (Stanford, 4:03.77) are all under the 4:04 mark so far this season. Six athletes follow all at the 4:04 mark giving the event a ton of depth when it comes to team title implications. One of those names include Abraham Alvarado from BYU. He’s foregone the 800 where he has ran 1:47 on the year. Look for Alvarado to try and mix it up in the front. Prediction: Ben Saarel (Colorado) -It feels like Saarel is always on the wrong side of the tape when it comes to championship season. This the race that Saarel finally captures the elusive title. 3000 The 3000 meter race features a few names from my previous article where I previewed potential indoor national qualifiers. This includes Clayton Young (BYU, 7:49.76), Rory Linkletter (BYU, 7:55.10), Jack Keelan (Stanford, 7:58.68), Garrett Corcoran (California, 8:00.94) and Zach Perrin (Colorado, 8:01.66). Young has the fastest time of the athletes that are entered and is the only one with a PR under 7:50. Oregon’s James West and Cooper Teare are the next two fastest with their respective 7:51.23 and 7:53.66. The Ducks will look to make a splash and aid in the team effort. As we move deeper into this 3000-meter race, we see some familiar names from the earlier previews that I wrote before the season started. Those names include Grant Fisher (Stanford), Colby Gilbert (Washington), Saarel (Colorado), Teare (Oregon) and Linkletter (BYU). Fisher recorded his impressive 7:48.56 at Iowa State while Gilbert won the Husky Classic in 7:49.42. Saarel, James West, and Teare have all eclipsed the 7:55 mark and will look to be in the mix. Linkletter has run 7:55 back in January but has since then ran 13:41 in the 5000. Expect Linkletter to find his way into the mix. Fred Huxham (Washington, 7:56.98), Ryan Forsyth (Colorado, 7:57.52) and Jack Keelan (Stanford, 7:58.68) round out the runners in the MPSF who have all run under 8:00. Names left off that list? Garret Corcoran (California, 8:00.94), Zach Perrin (Colorado, 8:01.66), and Daniel Carney (BYU, 8:01.82). It’s safe to say that the MPSF isn’t short on depth of talented runners. Prediction: Grant Fisher (Stanford) -Fisher has progressed very nicely this season. Despite getting kicked down by Andy Trouard at Iowa State, Fisher has the wheels to outrun nearly everyone else in this field. Watch him bide his time and blow the doors off the last 600 meters of the race. 5000 The 5000 meters currently has ten athletes under the 14 minute barrier which is led by Linkletter’s 13:41.01. However, his teammate Daniel Carney is only .31 behind him giving BYU some punching power at the top. Oregon’s Tanner Anderson sits 3rd with his 13:43.74 while Stanford’s Steven Fahy sits 4th (13:44.82). He is the last runner to dip under 13:45 heading into the weekend. That leaves Connor McMillan (BYU, 13:48.00), Robert Brandt (UCLA, 13:53.18), Clason Shumway (BYU, 13:54.71), Ryan Forsyth (Colorado, 13:56.07), Emmanuel Roudolff-Levisse (Portland, 13:57.97) and Alek Parsons (Stanford, 13:58.87) to finish out the top ten. Prediction: Rory Linkletter (BYU) -He’s been looking to avenge a sub-par finish at XC Nationals last season. I believe this is the start of that revenge tour for The Link. DMR The last race we have to preview for the MPSF is the Distance Medley Relay. Stanford currently leads the field when they won their duel against Oregon at the Alex Wilson Invite. The times of 9:26.91 and 9:27.17 were previously the fastest two times in the country until yesterday’s affair at the Mountain West Conference meet. They’ll look to fend off BYU and Washington squads that may have relay qualification hopes in the back of their mind. The DMR will certainly have an impact on the team standings as Stanford and Oregon will look to gain any advantage they can. Prediction: Stanford Cardinal -With Grant Fisher as the anchor of this team, I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t be able to close any gap, if there even is one.

800 The favorite in this one will be Virginia Tech's Patrick Joseph and it's easy to see why. So far, Joseph has run a 3:59 (converted to 3:56), 1:49 (for the win), and his DMR earned a 4th place ranking. Some may argue that he's been quiet in the 800 this season, but this was also the case last year when we he had a huge run at ACC's to win the title and finish the day with a time of 1:46.23. This weekend looks like a similar scenario... Joseph may be the favorite, but there are other strong competitors in this field. John Lewis (Clemson) owns a personal best of 1:47 and is hungry to prove that he can qualify for Nationals. However, he has yet to break 1:49 this season despite his three attempts at this event. In the next heat, we can't ignore Robert Heppenstall (Wake Forest) who is one of the most experienced and clutch championships runners in the NCAA (as only a junior). With a personal best of 1:46, he'll be one of the few athletes that can actually give Joseph a run for his money. Others like Avery Bartlett (Georgia Tech), Neil Gourley (Virginia Tech), Malik Epps (Clemson), Andres Littig (Georgia Tech), and Elijah Silva (Notre Dame) have shown signs of promise this season and should be considered as threats to place in the top three, especially Bartlett and Gourley. FINAL PREDICTIONS 1. Patrick Joseph (Virginia Tech) 2. Robert Heppenstall (Wake Forest) 3. Neil Gourley (Virginia Tech) 4. John Lewis (Clemson) 5. Avery Bartlett (Georgia Tech) 6. Malik Epps (Clemson) 7. Elijah Silva (Notre Dame) 8. Andres Littig (Georgia Tech) Mile The mile will be one of the best events of the meet as there doesn't appear to be one lone favorite. In heat one, the Virginia Tech duo of Vincent Ciattei and Daniel Jaskowak should be able to handle things pretty easily and advance to the finals. Citattei recently ran a 3:59 (3:56 converted) at Camel City and is looking to defend his ACC title from last year after he upset rival Henry Wynne from Virginia. In heat two, Michael Hall (Florida State) is fresh off a 3:59, the first sub-4 mile of his career. A time like that can do wonders for someone's confidence and I expect that confidence to carry him into a top 8 finish this weekend. I'll also be interested to see how Jacob Dumford (Notre Dame) performs. He's run 2:21 (1k) and split 2:53 (1200) so far this season, but we haven't really seen him do a whole lot outside of those performances. Speaking of strong Notre Dame talent, one of the more pleasant surprises of this season has been the Fighting Irish's Yared Nuguse. The freshman has been absolutely killing it with PR's of 4:02 and 8:04 so far this season. He even split a reported 3:57 on his DMR last weekend. Could we see something similar against this field? Heat four will provide us with a duo of impressive underclassmen. Virginia Tech's Diego Zarate is hungry to go under 4 minutes for the first time in his career after running 4:03 on a flat-track at Camel City. His converted time was 4:00.49. He'll be challenging Syracuse freshman Noah Affolder who ran 4:02 earlier this season. FINAL PREDICTIONS 1. Vincent Ciattei (Virginia Tech) 2. Yared Nuguse (Notre Dame) 3. Michael Hall (Florida State) 4. Diego Zarate (Virginia Tech) 5. Jacob Dumford (Notre Dame) 6. Daniel Jaskowak (Virginia Tech) 7. Noah Affolder (Syracuse) 8. Sebastian Fischbach (Wake Forest) 3000 The Syracuse men will be all the talk in this one as Justyn Knight, Aidan Tooker, and Iliass Aouani are set to toe the line. If it wasn't already clear, Knight is the overwhelming favorite in this one while Aouani and Tooker should be considered as strong nominees for a top three finish. Of course, there are plenty of other talented individuals that will give this 'Cuse trio a push throughout the race. Peter Seufer (Virginia Tech) and Nahom Solomon (Georgia Tech) have established themselves as long-distance studs within the ACC and should not be underestimated with personal bests of 8:09 and 8:02 respectively. Yared Nuguse (Notre Dame) enters this race with one of the stronger PR's of 8:04. However, he'll be probably be running on tired legs after finishing his duties in the mile and (assumably) the DMR. If you're looking for sleeper picks in this one, look for Nick Wolk (Pittsburgh) to have an impact in this race. He's recorded personal bests of 4:05 and 8:07 this season. He's got a lot of momentum heading into the biggest meet of his season so he could certainly be a threat for a top five finish. FINAL PREDICTIONS 1. Justyn Knight (Syracuse) 2. Aidan Tooker (Syracuse) 3. Nahom Solomon (Georgia Tech) 4. Iliass Aouani (Syracuse) 5. Nick Wolk (Pittsburgh) 6. Peter Seufer (Virginia Tech) 7. James Quattlebaum (Clemson) 8. Phillip Hall (NC State) 5000 The 5000 will be a lot like the 3000 with a lot of similar entries. The Syracuse Orangemen will field six of their guys in the fastest heat with Justyn Knight headlining the field. Other 'Cuse members include Philo Germano, Kevin James, Iliass Aouani, Joe Dragon, and Aidan Tooker. Just like the 3000, Peter Seufer and Nahom Solomon will be some of the top contenders to break up this Syracuse contingent. Seufer's personal best of 14:09 and experience on the national stage in this event suggests that he could place as high as 2nd. Although the attention may be on the Syracuse guys, Virginia deserves some love after Brent Demarest and Chase Weaverling ran times of 13:56 and 14:05 (respectively) at the BU Valentine Invite. They're familiar with this field and should be ready for any race tactic that comes their way. If you're looking for a pair of sleeper picks, Ari Klau (Virginia) and Elijah Moskowitz (NC State) are good choices. Both have put up solid performances over the past year of competition and are trending in the right direction in terms of fitness. FINAL PREDICTIONS 1. Justyn Knight (Syracuse) 2. Peter Seufer (Virginia Tech) 3. Philo Germano (Syracuse) 4. Brent Demarest (Virginia) 5. Iliass Aouani (Syracuse) 6. Elijah Moskowitz (NC State) 7. Chase Weaverling (Virginia) 8. Ari Klau (Virginia)

By: John Cusick 800 The Mountain West boasts 10 runners all under the 1:52 mark. Two of those come in the form of altitude conversions. Josh Kerr of host team New Mexico leads the charge after his 1:48.26 in mid-January. Chasing him are Clay Lambourne (Utah State), Michael Wilson (New Mexico), and Michael Rhoads (Air Force) who all enter with sub 1:50 marks on the season. New Mexico rounds out the top five with Kristian Hansen who has run under 1:51. Zac Petrie (Air Force), Bryce Alishie (Wyoming), Jordan Beutler (Utah State), Blake Yount (Colorado State) and Sam Coleman (Utah State) round out the top ten. Utah State has more depth as numbers 11-13 are all Aggies. Josh Kerr may be the top ranked individual, but with the potential to race the mile/DMR double, it is more likely that Lambourne enters this event as the favorite. Prediction: Clay Lambourne (Utah State) Mile We move to the mile where once again we find the aforementioned Kerr. His 3:54 not only leads the MWC, but it also leads the country. He’s the clear favorite coming into the weekend. However, guys like Cole Rockhold (Colorado State, 3:58.12) and Dillon Maggard (Utah State, 4:00.03) post the next fastest times and certainly won’t go without a fight if given the chance to race Kerr. Maggard may be thinking about trying to qualify for Nationals in the mile just in case he gets pushed out of the 3000 later this week. Ian Crowe-Wright (New Mexico) has run 4:01.05. He joins the other three as the only ones to go under 4:02. Be sure to keep an eye out for Trent Powell (Colorado State), Brody Smith (Utah State), Jeff Lautenslager (Boise State), Wayde Hall (Colorado State), Andrew Rafla (Boise State) and Noah Riley (Air Force). Some of these guys are having very solid seasons and shouldn’t be counted out. Prediction: Josh Kerr (New Mexico) 3000 As we move to the 3000 meters, we see a lot of the same names towards the top. Rockhold (CSU), Maggard (USU), Addison DeHaven (Boise State), and Grant Fischer (Colorado State) are all contenders and all have run under 8:00 this season. Colorado State adds three more in the top ten as Carson Hume (5th, 8:05.02), Wayde Hall (7th, 8:06.24), and Trent Powell (8th, 8:07.79) have all posted quality times throughout the year. With so many of them in one race, we may see this trifecta working together to execute their race plan. Boise State’s Riley Campbell, Jeff Lautenslager, and Andrew Rafla join Addison DeHaven in the top ten and have essentially turned the race into a Bronco/Ram affair. DeHaven will be one of the few athletes in this field who can contend with Rockhold, Fischer, and Maggard after running a personal best of 7:54 at the Husky Classic. He currently sits at 19th in the NCAA standings so expect him to push the pace in an effort to earn a top 16 qualifying spot. Prediction: Dillon Maggard (Utah State) 5000 The 5000 meters might very well be the most interesting as Maggard, Fischer, and presumably Rockhold look to battle it out in one of the best races in the Mountain West. However, Maggard may already be focused on other events this weekend such as the DMR, mile, and maybe 3000 (he'll probably pursue two of those three events). The Air Force men are dangerous as they could potentially send a lethal trio in Jacob Bilvado (13:56.89), Mickey Davey (13:59.38), and Andrew Johnston (14:09.21). They might very easily round out the top five and mix it up at front of this race. The Falcons add a fourth runner in Jimmy Shipley (14:17.58) who has the seventh fastest time in the Mountain West. However, it will take a group effort in order to keep the Rams out of contention as the 6th, 8th, 9th, and 10th ranked runners in the conference are all taken by runners from Fort Collins (Colorado State). Prediction: Cole Rockhold (Colorado State) DMR Although the 5000 meters may be the most interesting, the Distance Medley Relay may be the most entertaining. With only two Mountain West teams having recorded a DMR time so far this season, the race appears to be pretty open. With rumblings of New Mexico trying to put together a fast time, and with Josh Kerr as the anchor, we can only imagine the endless possibilities for this relay. However, Utah State is sure to put a team together when you consider the fitness that Dillon Maggard has shown so far this season. Expect Colorado State and the Air Force Academy to put together a team that will gun for the top spot. If Cole Rockhold anchors that DMR for the Rams, we could potentially see a Kerr vs Maggard vs Rockhold matchup. Prediction: New Mexico Lobos

The performance list has yet to be released for the BIG 10 Championships, but we do have an idea of what some of these guys might be running. Check back to this article for the performance list... If I had to guess, the Nittany Lions are going to pursue a fast DMR this weekend. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that all of the pieces of their relay are going to be fresh. Domenic Perretta has yet to qualify for NCAA's in an individual event and with the 800 field looking a little slower than usual, it's very possible that he might see BIG 10's as an opportunity to qualify. As for Isaiah Harris, he may also run the 800 in an effort to earn points for the team title. He was in the same situation last year and it resulted in the Nittany Lions winning the BIG 10 crown... The anchor leg of this hypothetical DMR would be Colin Abert, although he too is likely to be doubling. After running 3:59 earlier this year, Abert and the PSU coaching staff may feel that he still has a shot to qualify for Nationals. It wouldn't hurt if he earned a few team points as well... Penn State will most likely run a DMR, but don't expect them to fresh. They will definitely be going for the win, but with all of their legs expected to double, don't expect them to run a national qualifying time. If they wanted to, Wisconsin could run their stacked DMR, but there may not be much of a point after they already comfortably qualified for Nationals. After splitting 3:54 last weekend, Oliver Hoare could very easily choose to run a fast mile and potentially qualify for Nationals. Qualifying in the mile would be a nice luxury to have, but it probably still makes more sense if Hoare attempted the DMR/3k double at NCAA's. If he attempted the mile/DMR double, he would have to go through the mile trials, the DMR three hours later, and then the mile finals on Day 2. Yes, he could still end up as an All-American in both events, but there's more upside if he sticks with the 3k. Eric Brown is another interesting name for Wisconsin. He isn't qualified for NCAA's, but after splitting 1:47.7 last weekend, he may take one last crack at it. He's talented enough to qualify, but if he does, he has to be ready to double at Nationals. Unlike the other teams throughout the BIG 10, the Michigan men are pretty easy to figure out. If I had to guess, Flanagan will run the 5000 (that's the only event he's run this season), Mora and Barnett will run the mile, and Aaron Baumgarten will run the 3000. Mora and Barnett will most likely double back for a DMR. All four of these individuals have shown plenty of promise this season, but this is their last chance to get themselves into a top 16 spot. Much like Michigan, Indiana seems pretty easy to figure out. The underclassmen duo of Bryce Millar and Ben Veatch will most likely pursue the 3k/5k double while Daniel Kuhn will look to earn a few points in what should be a loaded 800 field. Guys like Teddy Browning, Joseph Murphy, and Jordan Huntoon, will most likely be sprinkled throughout the 800 and mile fields, although it is also very probable that they team up for a "B" team DMR... The only guy I am unsure about is Kyle Mau. It's tough to say exactly what he would run, but it's very possible that he tries the mile/3k double. It certainly wouldn't be an easy double, but it would be Indiana's best chance of maximizing their team points. Fianlly, I think we need to talk about Illinois. Well, more specifically, Jon Davis. What is his plan? Could we potentially see Davis put aside his individual aspirations and attempt to anchor a DMR? Illinois would need some big-time performances from their 1200 and 800 legs, but if they can get Davis close enough to the front, you never know what kind of time they could throw down... Here are few other notable individuals that we think are near-guarantees for the following events... - Jaret Carpenter (Purdue): 3000 / 5000 - Carter Lilly (Iowa): 800 / DMR - Jordan Makins (Penn State): 800 - Clark Ruiz (Michigan State): 3000 / 5000 - Alex Lomong (Ohio State): 800 / DMR Once the performance list comes out, we'll have it linked on this article! Check back for more previews and projections soon...

Have a question or comment? Feel free to go to our HOME page and fill out the form in the "TSR Mailbag" box. No email required! Thanks to everyone who has submitted questions! Keep them coming... "Why did Stanford wait to race Sean McGorty? What does this mean for the MPSF Championships?" - Cardinal Inquiry Stanford is notorious for leaving fans guessing. Rarely has Stanford ever run a full-lineup prior to Nationals (in cross country) and they usually leave a key runner out until the final few meets of the track season. Why does Stanford do this? Honestly, I'm unsure. McGorty has had a history with injuries over the past year which could have played a role in his delayed start. At the same time, Coach Milt also seems to be a guy who is cautious about over-racing. Some people like to argue in favor of the surprise factor. What edge that may give a team is still unclear to me, but plenty of programs like to lay low until they absolutely have to run fast. So what does this mean for McGorty now? If I had to guess, I'm assuming that he'll be running the 3000 at the MPSF Championships this weekend. With the DMR most likely on his schedule for Nationals, running the mile would force McGorty to double within a 3-hour time frame and later come back for the finals the next day. However, if he were to qualify in the 3000, he would be completely fresh for the DMR and have an entire day to recover for Day 2. "Who could potentially pull off the upset win in each event and why? - DB4 For clarification, we'll just assume that the favorites in each event are Michael Saruni (800), Kerr (Mile), Knight (3000 & 5000), and Stanford (DMR). They are all NCAA #1's at the moment with the exception of Knight in the 5000... 800: Bryce Hoppel (Kansas) - Proven ability to double which bodes well for getting through both the prelims and finals - Has shown that he can beat top-tier veterans (i.e. Iowa State Classic) - Has yet to lose a single race this season (in an open event) - Strong finish/kick Isaiah Harris (Penn State) - Experienced - The only one who has the personal bests to match Saruni - Familiar with the competition Dylan Capwell (Monmouth) - Showing signs of 2015 fitness when he finished runner-up at NCAA's - Experienced: Has raced two eras of 800 runners - Speed oriented athlete which could be favorable in a sit-and-kick type race Mile: Kasey Knevelbaard (Southern Utah) - Has one of the best kicks in the NCAA - Trains & races at altitude which could help since Albuquerque, New Mexico takes place at 5300 ft - Solid range from the 800 to 5k with the ability to adapt to different racing styles Sam Prakel (Oregon) - Has consistently run some of the best mile performance in the United States (among all levels) over the past year - Veteran who has raced against top competition throughout his career - Only Josh Kerr and Justyn Knight have a run mile with no conversion faster than Prakel has this season - Will most likely have teammates racing with him (Brown & Stanovsek) which can help with the execution of race strategies 3000: Grant Fisher (Stanford) - Has upset Knight before - Known for his kick - Capable of adjusting to different racing styles - Has experience on the big stage Andy Trouard (Northern Arizona) - Has not yet lost to a single collegiate so far this season - Proven capability of pulling off an upset (i.e. defeating Fisher at ISU Classic) - Ability to match kick of competitors - Trains & races at altitude which could help since Albuquerque, New Mexico takes place at 5300 ft - MIGHT opt out of mile to be completely fresh for the 3000 knowing that Fisher and Knight will both be doubling from Day 1. Oliver Hoare (Wisconsin) - Gaining momentum as the season goes on...has improved personal best in this event from 7:54 to 7:51 - Still relatively new to this event which leaves a lot of upside - Split 3:54 in DMR last weekend...good indication of speed 5000: Mike Tate (Southern Utah) - Capable of running from the front which can eliminate competitors who like to rely on a kick - Has the best time in the nation this season - Trains & races at altitude which could help since Albuquerque, New Mexico takes place at 5300 ft Dillon Maggard (Utah State) - Has raced Knight before, understands his racing style - Trains & races at altitude which could help since Albuquerque, New Mexico takes place at 5300 ft - Capable of sticking with a fast pace which is a very real possibility with Mike Tate in this field - Experienced...has run on the national stage multiple times - Solid range Jack Bruce (Arkansas) - Beat Knight at NCAA Outdoor 5k last year - Has exhibited solid range and the ability to perform in the mid-distances - Has one of the more underrated kicks in the NCAA - Very experienced DMR: Indiana Hoosiers - Kyle Mau upset Fisher and Stanford earlier this season (admittedly, without Sean McGorty) - Plenty of depth and options to put at the 1200 leg, although Teddy Browning appears to running incredibly well there - May have the best 800 leg in the field, although Virginia Tech may argue against that Wisconsin Badgers - Experienced, veteran status through most legs - After splitting 3:54, Hoare has proven that he can hang with any anchor in the field - Hardy, Brown, and Hoare have not yet had a "poor" race this season Virginia Tech Hokies - One of the best all-around relays in the nation - Veteran status throughout all four legs - Have been on this stage before Ole Miss Rebels - Defending their title - Have been here before, very experienced - Return a similar relay from last year minus Craig Engels - Domanic ran 3:54 earlier this summer, could replicate that performance Who are your projected All-Americans? - RollCats In due time my friend, in due time... My roommate and I were debating so we'll leave it to you to figure out...among the distance runners, which ones are considered "elite"? Name all if you can. - Joe Flacco Is Not Elite Let's just be clear that not only is Joe Flacco not elite, but neither is Andy Dalton. That may be my Pittsburgh bias coming out, but I digress... The "elite" discussion is a very sensitive topic in most sports. In sports like football and basketball, there are so many subjective factors to analyze that it makes the discussion practically impossible to conclude. Distance running is a little more of an exact science, but there are still a variety of different factors that we need to compare. Wins, times, All-Americans honors, NCAA titles, number of losses, ability to double, racing tactics, accomplishments at certain times in eligibility, consistency, and so much more are all considered when we talk about any specific type of ranking or classification for distance runners. Before we can answer this, I need to know if we're talking about just this season or the overall careers of active runners in the NCAA. That's an important distinction. For the sake of this conversation, I think we'll talk about the overall careers rather than just this season. When I use the word "elite", I'm relatively conservative with who I give it to. The special thing about being "elite" is that there are only a handful of others in that same club as you. In my mind, when we look at what these guys have done so far in their careers, the clear-cut favorites to be considered "elite" are... - Justyn Knight (Syracuse) - Josh Kerr (New Mexico) - Michael Saruni (UTEP) - Isaiah Harris (Penn State) - Morgan McDonald (Wisconsin) - Grant Fisher (Stanford) - Sean McGorty (Stanford) - Matthew Baxter (Northern Arizona) - Tyler Day (Northern Arizona) A handful of these guys have titles, others have incredible times, and some have both. For the most part, I think this is a pretty reasonable list. After those nine is where things open up to debate. Here are guys that I feel may be a tier off from entering that "elite" level for whatever reason that may be. - Andy Trouard (Northern Arizona) - Rory Linkletter (BYU) - Colby Gilbert (Washington) - Ben Saarel (Colorado) - Dillon Maggard (Utah State) and maybe a few others...

Have a question or comment? Feel free to go to our HOME page and fill out the form in the "TSR Mailbag" box. No email required! "After watching the Eagles win their first Super Bowl, it got me wondering...which NCAA XC team is in the most desperate need of a cross country team title?" - PHL41 NE33 This is a really good question that I'm honestly unsure if I can answer accurately. The thing about the NCAA is that there are so many teams who put scholarship money into different areas. Syracuse puts all of their scholarship money into cross country while schools like Georgia put all of their scholarship money into track. Naturally, Georgia is going to be a better program on the track while Syracuse will be a better program during cross country. It wouldn't really be fair to consider Georgia in this conversation, so be sure to consider that as you read this... For the sake of this topic, let's just assume that the teams we are discussing currently reside in the Power 5 conferences (ACC, BIG 10, SEC, BIG 12, PAC 12). Below, you will find the total number of NCAA XC titles that each current Power 5 program has secured over the 78 year history of the NCAA Cross Country Championships (1943 did not hold a championship due to WWII). Arkansas : 11 Michigan State : 8 Oregon : 6 Colorado : 5 Wisconsin : 5 Oklahoma State : 4 Stanford : 4 Indiana : 3 Syracuse : 2 Penn State : 2 Iowa State : 2 Notre Dame : 1 Kansas : 1 Tennessee : 1 As you can see, this list still leaves A LOT of Power 5 teams without a team title. Yet, if there's one team that truly stands out, it might be the Michigan Wolverines. When you look at the Great Lakes region, you'll see that teams like Wisconsin, Michigan State, Indiana, and Notre Dame all have at least one cross country title. The Wolverines do not. Obviously, there are plenty of other cross country program in that region without a title, but none may be more historic and more legendary than Michigan. When you consider the all-time greats to come out of the program (Alan Webb, Nick Willis, Nate Brannen, Kevin Sullivan, etc.) it's hard to believe that they have never earned the big win. Of course, we also have to acknowledge that this program has historically put a lot of focus on their milers. Rivals like Wisconsin and the 1950's Michigan State squad have often had the sole focus of succeeding in cross country over track. Some may argue that the SEC is underrepresented with just Arkansas and Tennessee, but historically, the conference has been dominated by sprinters. Mississippi is a team that is beginning to focus on their long-distance guys, but they are still more of a track-oriented program than anything. Aside from Arkansas, there hasn't really been a team in the SEC with the central focus being entirely on cross country. The Virginia Cavaliers are another team that stand-out as a very Eagles-esque cross country program. For as long as I have been following the sport, UVA has been revered as one of the top programs in the nation. Sure, some seasons are better than others, but they have still been at the top of the NCAA most years. They have elite recruiting, outstanding depth, and are consistently ranked at the top of the polls. And what about Texas? Almost a decade ago, they were known as one of the biggest threats in cross country with guys like Craig Lutz, Ryan Dohner, and Leo Manzano (to name a few). Now, the Longhorns are going through a bit of a rebuilding period as they attempt to regain their prominence among some of the top cross country teams in the nation. Talking about all of the relevant Power 5 teams that are still looking for a title would take forever. Obviously, the ultimate goal for these squads is to win it all. Yet, when you consider the teams that have historically focused on and succeeded in cross country, programs like Michigan, Virginia, and Texas can't go ignored. If you're looking for other teams like that, you may want to consider Washington, Oklahoma, and NC State as well. Who knows? Maybe one of those teams will be the miracle underdogs of 2018 just like the Eagles were... "How legitimate do you think the altitude conversions are that we have seen so far?" - MileHigh This question gets asked every single year after someone earns a generous altitude conversion. This past weekend, it was Southern Utah's Kasey Knevelbaard who ran a 4:04 mile at roughly 7000 ft (someone can correct me on that). With a conversion, that time is converted into a 3:55. At Colorado, we saw Zach Perrin and Ben Saarel run a pair of 4:03's to earn conversions of 3:57. Cole Rockhold ran 4:04 to earn a 3:58 conversion. The altitude conversion system that the NCAA has is on lock-down, meaning that only they know what the conversion is going to be once a race is finished. The conversion system, although not officially published, has been consistently criticized over the years. During the 2014-2015 indoor track season, Montana State's Cristian Soratos ran a mile at altitude on a flat-track and earned a converted time of 3:56. Prior to this performance, no one had ever heard of Soratos which eventually led to questioning the validity of his time. Fast forward to the Husky Classic in February, and Soratos threw down a 3:55 to win the meet and upset some huge names like Brannon Kidder and Daniel Winn. After that, no one questioned the conversion...or at least, not for the rest of the season. Are the conversions exact? No. They never will be. But there are plenty of other examples of altitude converted times eventually matching the performances of the athlete. Let's take a look at the altitude converted milers from 2017... - There were 8 men who dipped under 4 minutes in the mile thanks to a conversion from altitude. - Of those 8 individuals, 7 of them qualified for Nationals. - Of those 7 qualifiers, 5 of them later became All-Americans (some of them, albeit, in a different event). - The 2 who did not become All-Americans that year were already All-Americans in a separate season. Discussing examples like these from every year of results would take forever. However, what I can tell you is that the trend is relatively consistent. For the most part, altitude conversions are accurate and, most of the time, the athlete usually comes back to run a performance that is an equivalent of their altitude conversion.