Colorado and Cheserek are Looking for Third Straight Titles

Published by Adam Schneider/RunnerSpace.com/college on Auguat 22, 2015

The men’s cross country team for the Colorado Buffalos are running into this season with a solid favorite’s tag after winning the last two titles. A usually cautious head coach, Mark Wetmore, has  already said that this might be his best year ever at Colorado if you put the men’s and women’s teams together. The women are strong but the men are historic.

Last year junior Ben Saarel finished in the top eight at the NCAA cross country championships (NC XC) for the second time (7th in 2014 and 8th in 2013). In fifth was his now senior teammate Ammar Moussa, a talented runner that finally found health. Next for Colorado was now graduated senior Blake Theroux (ninth NC XC).  Despite losing Theroux Colorado does not lose much as they return their next two runners (seniors Connor Winter in 24th and Morgan Pearson in 35th). They also return indoor track all-American Morgan Pearson (17th at 2013 NC XC) and sophomore Zach Perrin (107th in 2013). Freshman John Dressel won the Washington 3A state 1600m and 3200m titles and he was the top US junior at the 2015 World Cross Country championships (27th). 

Like last year Stanford has very interesting prospects for this season. Stanford had a chance to upset Colorado and finally put it together when it counted as they finished second to Colorado (65 to 97). It could have been closer but a back injury slowed junior Sean McGorty’s progress last year (20th) and 2013 NCAA 5th place finisher Jim Rosa missed the whole season.  Joe, Jim’s twin, will also be a senior this year and he finished 33rd last year. Sam Wharton was 39th last year and graduate transfer (from Georgetown) Collin Liebold was 27th at the Mid-Atlantic region last year. Junior Garrett Sweatt was 68th and developing sophomore Jack Keelan was 100th. Two time Foot Locker cross country champion Grant Fischer and the ninth place finisher Alex Ostberg join the squad. If this team can be healthy for the season they could challenge Colorado for the title.

Syracuse entered the NCAA meet as a team with a solid shot of winning the title. They dominated the Wisconsin Adidas meet (85 to 154 over Iona) with almost as impressive performance as the the future NCAA champion women’s winner, Michigan State (they won 87 to 191 over Arkansas). Looks were deceiving as even though they looked great, three teams they defeated in Wisconsin (Stanford was fifth, Portland was fourth and Northern Arizona was sixth) peaked and brought back runners from injury for the NCAA championships and passed the Orangemen (fifth with 206 points). With the return of ACC champion seniors Martin Heir (38th) and Dan Lennon (45th) and 2015 5000m all-american (6th) and Pan Am junior cross country champion Justyn Knight returns for his sophomore year along with sophomore Colin Bennie (95th) and junior Joel Hubbard (165th). 

Three times a national champion since 2009 (’09, ’10, and ’12), the Oklahoma State Cowboys want to win another title.  Last year they were disappointed with their first non-trophy year (9th) since 2008 after they were second in 2011 and third in 2013. Coach Dave Smith has five seniors to help them overcome that disappointment. Craig Nowak (16th), Fabian Clarkson (52nd), and Brian Gohlke (89th). Senior Vegard Olsted struggled in his first year (28th at the Midwest region) with the Cowboys but he should return to his success at Western State (2nd 2013 NCAA D2 cross country)  and become one of the Cowboys top runners. Sophomore Cerake Geberkidane (126th) has been successful and developed slowly and looks to be a bigger contributor this year. Sophomore Anthoney Armstrong and senior NCAA 1500m champion Chad Noelle will make it difficult for Coach Smith to determine the top seven.

Junior Edward Cheserek has already won nine NCAA individual titles for the Ducks and has led the track team to two NCAA team track titles. Last year, graduated teammate Eric Jenkins finished second and the team finished sixth overall and scored fewer points (221 points) than in 2013 (fifth for 274).  2014 was an exceptionally competitive year but the Ducks are much less experienced this year. Senior Jeramy Elkaim seems to have overcome the injured gluteus problem that has slowed him since 2013 (ran 13:39.35 indoors and 159th at 2012 NC XC). He ran in the NCAA indoor 3000m final after winning the MPSF title in 7:48.48.  Sophomores Blake Haney (3rd 2014 NCAA 1500), Sam Prakel (10th 2014 NCAA 1500),  Jake Leingang (149th 2013 NC XC) and Travis Neuman (175th 2014 NC XC) have all head NCAA experience. Senior Matt Melancon (181st at 2015 NC XC) leads a large group of veterans that have contributed to recent Duck success. Oregon also has local state cross country record-setting freshman (Tanner Anderson in Washington and Matthew Maton in Oregon) who may contribute early for the Ducks. 

The Gaels of Iona were second at Wisconsin Adidas but struggled with injuries before and during the season. Their team finished eighth at the NCAA meet (270 points) after finished sixth in 2013.  Veteran junior Kieran Clements (57th in 2013 NC XC), sophomore Gabriel Kirui (61st in 2014), junior Mike O’Dowd (62nd in 2014) sophomore Chartt Miller (76th in 2014) along with junior Otis Urbiaco (7:59 in the 3k) and sophomore Johannes Motschmann (12th in the 2012 European Junior cross country) have placed well enough to combine for a trophy but haven’t done it in the same year. This team lost two of their top five but have so much depth they can overcome that loss. This team could very well get a trophy this year if they can have consistent training. 

Michigan comes in as a possible surprise this year under coach Kevin Sullivan. Senior Mason Ferric (13th 2014 NC XC) has steadily developed. Known as “Big Bird”, he won his first Big 10 titles last year (indoor 5000m and outdoor 3000m steeplechase) and he should be in for a great senior season. Michigan returns all seven of their runners from 2015’s 11th place finish (365) including junior Ben Flanagan (64th), seniors August Pappas (79th), Tony Smoragiewicz (114th) and Nick Posada (190th), junior George Kelly (162nd) and sophomore Aaron Baumgarten (206th). Graduate student Jon Phillips (Cornell) joins the Wolverines and may make an immediate impact (30:02 10,000m pr).