USTFCCCA News & Notes
WEEKEND PREVIEW: Red-Hot Distance Action at Iowa State & Washington
NEW ORLEANS – Distance fans, you haven’t seen action this good since November.
Many of the key players from the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Louisville are on the track this weekend at the Iowa State Classic or the Washington Husky Classic – and many of these races will prove to be classic, themselves.
Every minute of the 10 featured races below will be streamed live on Flotrack Pro, so we present to you an annotated viewers’ guide in chronological order.
To check out the massive action going down at the Arkansas Razorback Tyson Invitational, check out our preview here.
Check out the full weekend schedule here, and the weekend’s broadcast schedule here.
FRIDAY
Iowa State Classic: Women’s 5000
Friday | 7:30pm ET / 6:30pm CT
LIVE RESULTS | MEET HOME | WATCH LIVE on FLOTRACK PRO
Why you should watch: Cross country national champion Molly Seidel of Notre Dame is back in action just one week after taking down Michigan standout Erin Finn over 3000 meters at the Meyo Invitational. With the fastest raw time of the year at 3000 meters (only Wesley Frazier has a faster converted time for qualifying purposes), she now sets her sights on the 5K distance. Keep an eye on a pair of times: 15:48.31 is her career-best and 15:21.85 is Allie Ostrander’s college lead.
She’ll duel with teammate Anna Rohrer, Kansas’ breakthrough cross country contender Sharon Lokedi, XC All-Americans Vanessa Fraser of Stanford and Regan Rome of William & Mary, and the Alabama duo of Katelyn Greenleaf and Rachael Reddy.
Iowa State Classic: Men’s 5000
Friday | 7:55pm ET / 6:55pm CT
LIVE RESULTS | MEET HOME | WATCH LIVE on FLOTRACK PRO
Why you should watch: It’s a veritable "who’s who" of the 2015 cross country season in one of the weekend’s deepest races – as many as eight All-Americans from November will be in action, plus several more from years past.
It’s easiest just to let the names speak for themselves: Jonathan Green, Georgetown (5th at NCAA XC); Jim Rosa, Stanford (6th); Colin Bennie, Syracuse (8th); Marc Scott, Tulsa (10th); Gilbert Kirui, Iona (20th); Thomas Curtin, Virginia Tech (22nd); Dylan LaFond, Illinois (29th); and Michael Clevenger, Notre Dame (38th).
Add in former All-Americans Matt McClintock of Purdue and MJ Erb of Mississippi, as well as reigning SEC champion Antibahs Kosgei of Alabama, for good measure, and you’ve got yourself a race. Also keep an eye on Willy Fink of Eastern Michigan, who’s currently No. 3 on the 2016 qualifying list at 3000 meters.
** QUICKLY, TO THE WASHINGTON HUSKY CLASSIC BROADCAST! **
Washington Husky Classic: Women’s 5000
Friday | 8:25pm ET / 5:25pm PT
LIVE RESULTS | MEET HOME | WATCH LIVE on FLOTRACK PRO
Why you should watch: Less than an hour after NCAA favorite Seidel runs this same distance at Iowa State, you can take a look at several dark horse contenders and up-and-coming challengers. The men’s 5K at Iowa State should wrap up just in time to switch live streams and catch this one.
As many as 10 cross country All-Americans from this past season will look to position themselves for similar success on the track on Washington’s oversized oval – headlined by Boise State frosh Brenna Peloquin. While her teammate Allie Ostrander (more on her later) stole the headlines this fall and into this winter, Peloquin was superb in her own right with a ninth-place finish at NCAA XC nationals.
Those two are just the tip of the iceberg. The field will also feature Erin Clark (11th at NCAA XC) and Kaitlin Benner (16th) of Colorado; Ednah Kurgat of Liberty (12th); Chelsea Blaase of Tennessee (14th); Waverly Neer (27th) and Molly Grabill (33rd) of Oregon; Olivia Pratt of Butler (28th); and Tessa Barrett of Penn State (38th). Hannah Everson of Air Force (22nd) will run in a separate section.
Washington Husky Classic: Men’s 5000
Friday | 8:45pm ET / 5:45pm PT
LIVE RESULTS | MEET HOME | WATCH LIVE on FLOTRACK PRO
Why you should watch: Edward Cheserek.
Need we say more? Given his sheer talent, any time Oregon’s four-time NCAA indoor champion steps on the track is a must-watch occasion. While going for an all-time performance isn’t outside the realm of possibility, look for him to notch a qualifying mark, prepare for next weekend’s high-profile Millrose Games 3000, and pull teammate Jake Leingang along to a qualifier – all wrapped up with a ferocious kick to close the race.
Pierce Murphy of Colorado will be the three-time defending XC Champion’s primary opponent, as Murphy finished – admittedly, a distant – third in Louisville this past fall. He’ll be joined by teammates Morgan Pearson and Ammar Moussa.
Also in the field are distance standouts Aaron Nelson of Washington, Erik Peterson of Butler, Edwin Kibichiy of Louisville and Luis Vargas of NC State. Interestingly, DI XC champ Cheserek will also square off with DII champ Alfred Chelanga of Shorter.
** QUICKLY, BACK TO THE IOWA STATE CLASSIC BROADCAST! **
Iowa State Classic: Men’s 3000
Friday | 9pm ET / 8pm CT
LIVE RESULTS | MEET HOME | WATCH LIVE on FLOTRACK PRO
Why you should watch: A-List talent from coast-to-coast comes together for what might be the race of the night.
Remember how exciting the Wisconsin adidas Invitational finish was between Marc Scott, Sean McGorty of Stanford and Justyn Knight of Syracuse? Scott’s already run in Ames by this point, but we get another showdown between McGorty, making his 2016 individual debut, and collegiate mile leader Knight.
But by no means will it be just those two. Futsum Zienasellassie of Northern Arizona is back stronger than ever after redshirting the ’15 XC season. Mason Ferlic of Michigan is very familiar with the 3000-meter distance, albeit with steeplechase barriers. Morgan McDonald of Wisconsin is fresh off a 3:57.83 mile this past weekend.
What a fine way to wrap up a superb Friday evening of distance running.
** GET SOME SLEEP. REST UP FOR MORE DISTANCE ACTION TOMORROW **
SATURDAY
Iowa State Classic: Women’s 800
Saturday | 4:50pm ET / 3:50pm CT
LIVE RESULTS | MEET HOME | WATCH LIVE on FLOTRACK PRO
Why you should watch: It’s a battle of national contenders who have almost made it to the top of the mountain.
Claudia Saunders of Stanford has finished runner-up at each of the past two NCAA Outdoor Championships at 800 meters. Savannah Camacho of Oklahoma State finished runner-up at the 2014 NCAA Indoor Championships. Hanna Green of Virginia Tech took down eventual NCAA Indoor Champion Natoya Goule at the ACC Championships last year before finishing fifth at NCAAs.
Those three will square off alongside All-American Elizabeth Whelan of North Carolina and LSU’s Morgan Schuetz.
Iowa State Classic: Men’s 800
Saturday | 5:10pm ET / 4:10pm CT
LIVE RESULTS | MEET HOME | WATCH LIVE on FLOTRACK PRO
Why you should watch: Edward Kemboi got the better of Akron’s Clayton Murphy both indoors and outdoors last year, but the 2015 double NCAA champ has moved on from the collegiate system. He’s still racing this weekend as a pro, but Murphy comes in with momentum after running a career-best 3:57 mile earlier this week.
Murphy, an IAAF World Championships qualifier a year ago, will not only take on Kemboi but also the potent Florida duo of Ryan Schnulle – himself a former NCAA runner-up outdoors – and Andres Arroyo, as well as perennial contender Eliud Rutto of MTSU and Tre’Tez Kinnaird of Oklahoma State.
** TAKE A BREAK, YOU EARNED IT. BACK TO THE UW STREAM IN 90MIN **
Washington Husky Classic: Men’s Mile
Saturday | 6:45pm ET / 3:45pm PT
LIVE RESULTS | MEET HOME | WATCH LIVE on FLOTRACK PRO
Why you should watch: A mix of intriguing names from various distances could potentially square off.
Arguably no distance runner has had a better season so far than 3000 and 5000 collegiate leader Woody Kincaid of Portland. He’ll test his mettle in the mile against the likes of reigning NCAA outdoor 1500 champion Chad Noelle of Oklahoma State (note: he’s entered both in the mile and at 3000 meters), UTEP newcomer Jonah Koech, Oklahoma XC All-American Jacob Burcham, and Boise State standout David Elliott.
Washington Husky Classic: Women’s 3000
Saturday | 7:40pm ET / 4:40pm PT
LIVE RESULTS | MEET HOME | WATCH LIVE on FLOTRACK PRO
Why you should watch: To see what breathtaking surprise Allie Ostrander has in store for track & field fans next.
Ostrander has been the definition of the phrase "freshman phenom" all year long. First it was her breakout XC season that ended in national runner-up honors. Then she took her talents to this same track two weeks ago and ran a 15:21 in her first-ever 5000 on the track.
Now she turns her attention to the 3000-meter distance. She has some experience with a similar distance on the track with a career-best 3200 mark of 9:58.74. We can expect a time that’s comparatively faster, and Ostrander has taught us to expect the unexpected.
Will her pure strength in the longer distance translate to the raw speed she’ll need to crack the nine minute barrier – or even the 8:50 barrier?
She’ll have to spar with current 800-meter and mile collegiate leader Kaela Edwards of Oklahoma State, as well as a host of All-America contenders in Calli Thackery of New Mexico, Maddie Meyers of Washington, Erika Kemp of NC State, Maggie Montoya of Baylor, Sandie Raines of Texas, and Tori Gerlach of Penn State.
Washington Husky Classic: Men’s 3000
Saturday | 8:05pm ET / 5:05pm PT
LIVE RESULTS | MEET HOME | WATCH LIVE on FLOTRACK PRO
Why you should watch: The collegiate track debut – albeit, unattached – of frosh phenom Grant Fisher against a talented field.
He’s run 8:20 over this distance indoors while in high school, with an equally impressive 8:43 two-mile to his name at the end of his high school career. Expect him to go faster this weekend against a field that features the Oklahoma State duo of Craig Nowak and (potentially) Chad Noelle; Patrick Corona of Air Force; Colby Gilbert and Izaic Yorks of Washington; Reid Buchanan of Portland; Thomas Joyce and Chris Walden of Cal; Jefferson Abbey of Colorado State; and NC State’s Graham Crawford.
In the other sections, we’ll see more names including frosh John Dressel of Colorado; frosh Matthew Maton of Oregon, the NC State duo of Meron Simon, George Parsons; Andrew Rafla of Boise State; and Brian Barraza of Houston.