MEET PREVIEW: ACC Championships

NEW ORLEANS — There have been some incredible races over the years at the ACC Championships and Friday should be no different.

With two NCAA individual title contenders in the field and a total of five ranked teams (three men’s, two women’s) in the mix, it really shouldn’t disappoint.

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The past five team titles on the men’s side went to Syracuse (2015, 2014, 2013), Virginia Tech (2012) and NC State (2011). During that same time frame, Virginia (2015), North Carolina (2014) and Florida State (2013, 2012, 2011) won women’s crowns.

What’s going to happen this year? Only time will tell, but let’s break down the men’s and women’s race and find out what’s in store for the 2016 version of the championship.

Women’s Race

Start Time – Friday, 10:03 a.m. ET | Watch LIVE

Virginia and NC State waged an epic battle over 6K last year.

When the dust settled, the Cavaliers won 71-75 over the Wolfpack.

This year might be a little bit different as NC State comes into the meet ranked third in the nation and Virginia is in the midst of a freefall of sorts, tumbling out of the top-30 following a disappointing finish at the Pre-National Invitational (18th).

The Wolfpack are firing on all cylinders at the right part of the season. NC State was runner-up at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational as Erika Kemp (7th), Rachel Koon (18th) and Alyssa Rudawsky (24th) continued to step up in a big way. Ryen Frazier made her season debut and finished way back in 96th.

If the Wolfpack run like they did in Madison, there is little reason to doubt they’ll win their first ACC title since 2006. Plus, NC State would do so on its home course and welcomes Wesley Frazier to the mix.

No. 19 Notre Dame, RV Syracuse and RV Virginia will try to make life difficult for the Wolfpack, though. None of those three teams have been able to keep up with the Wolfpack in any of the meets in which they competed against each other, however.

Expect the race for the individual title to play out like it did last year when one of Notre Dame’s runners steamrolled the field. Molly Seidel won by 32 seconds in 2015 and based off her two races this year, it’s hard to imagine Anna Rohrer won’t do the same thing.

Rohrer cruised to an individual title at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational and then took a late lead in Madison before fading to third. The Irish sophomore beat the closest ACC competitor (Kemp) by 12 seconds at Wisco.

Don’t be surprised if Kemp, Boston College’s Isabelle Kennedy or Clemson’s Grace Barnett keep pressure on Rohrer until she decides to make her move. The Frazier sisters could be up there as well, if they run to their potential.

Men’s Race

Start Time – Friday, 10:45 a.m. ET / Watch LIVE

If Syracuse wants to prove it is no worse for wear and still a contender for the national title come November 19, this race is an ideal time for Chris Fox’s team to assert itself.

The defending ACC champion and NCAA champion Orange hit a bit of a snag recently, having finished second at the Panorama Farms Invitational and a disappointing fourth at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational two weeks ago. Syracuse entered the meet in Virginia ranked No. 1, but has since fallen to No. 6 in the most recent poll.

Justyn Knight has done his part in making sure Syracuse gets as few points as possible from his legs. Knight is a two-time winner this year — set a meet record in Virginia and outkicked several All-Americans in Wisconsin — and should be considered the favorite to win a third as he finished runner-up to a since-graduated Thomas Curtin last year.

Knight’s teammate Colin Bennie has yet to find the same gear he did last year during his breakout season (2nd at the Northeast Regional, 8th at NCAAs) and is running out of time to do so. Bennie was 6th at the Panorama Farms Invitational and 10th in Wisconsin after finishing 6th there in 2015.

Expect many of those same athletes Knight beat in Virginia and Wisconsin to contend for the individual title alongside him in North Carolina, namely NC State’s Sam Parsons (5th at Wisconsin after making a bold move halfway through the race) and Florida State’s Harry Mulenga. A notable exception to that rule would be Louisville’s Edwin Kibichiy, who was 3rd at ACCs last year.

When it comes to the battle for the team title, No. 16 Virginia and No. 26 Virginia Tech will be the gamest contenders to the Orange, with nods to NC State and Louisville. The Cavaliers, however, are going to be without 2016 NCAA indoor mile champ Henry Wynne once again.