Colorado still leads ahead of a weakened Stanford and Oklahoma State.

 Published by Adam Schneider on September 7, 2015

Many coaches used these early meets to give experience to their young runners. Colorado did work to win the CSU duals as they used runners looking to garner #6 and #7 positions on the team. Some teams haven't started to race - Stanford and Oregon will race this weekend.  Some teams are looking for national respect and Louisville, Georgia and Campbell did run hard and.    (Bracketed numbers are rankings from last week)

Pre-season

1.  Colorado - Sophomore Zach Perrin (14:43) won the CSU duals and led a group of Buffs looking to end up in the top seven at the end of year including unattached John Dressel (2nd in 14:51). Next race is Rocky Mountain Shootout on October 3.   (1)

2.  Stanford as usual has a very deep roster and they will test that roster in September.  Unfortunately graduate transfer Colin Liebold and sophomore Sam Wharton come into the season battling injuries. For the first time Stanford will start their season at the Fresno State Invitational on September 11. (2)

3.  Oklahoma State sophomore Cerake Gebrekidane led the Cowboys on August 30 at the Cowboy preview and showed their great depth. The Blue Grass Invitational is next on September 12.     (3)

4.  Iona’s Xavier King (18:53.1 for 6000m) led Iona (27-29 over Marist) at the Marist Opener. Next is the Bryan Doyle Meet of Champions at home on September 19th.  (4)

5. Syracuse takes runners led by senior Juris Silenieks (2nd) battling for #6 and #7 position on the team to the Harry Lang Invitational (6400m race) and finish 2nd to Navy (27 to 29). Next for the team is Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational on September 11.   (5)

6.  Oregon’s first race is September 11th at home for the Bill Dillinger Invitational and this could be a good sign of what kind of summer conditioning the team has had.  (6)

7.  Michigan dominated the EMU Celebration 5k as senior Mason Ferric won in 14:56.1 leading the Wolverines to seven of the first eight spots.  Next up for the Wolverine is the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational on September 11.    (7)

8.  Wisconsin Coach Mick Byrne used the Badger Opener to test young runners and won 44 to 49 for Loyola as junior Russell Sandvold led Wisconsin in third (19:02.8) over the 6000m course. Next for the Badgers is the Iona College Meet of Champions on September 19th. (8)

9.  Villanova will look to finish well this season and their first meet is the Big 5 Invitational on September 11. (9)

10. Mississippi did not use any of their top runners at the Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic. Their next race is the Commodore Classic on September 19th. (10)

11. Northern Arizona introduced sophomore transfer Cory Glines as a Lumberjack and he beat regular Alejandro Maldonado at the George Kyte Classic as they dominated competition (perfect score of 15) among Arizona schools. Their next race is the Dave Murray Invitational on September 18th. (11)

12. Virginia swept the UVA duals as Henry Wynne got off to a great season start and led the Cavaliers. Next is Virginia/Panorama Farms Invitational on September 26.    (12)

13. Indiana Owen Skeet won the Indiana Open 8000m in 25:48.41. Next is the Indiana Intercollegiates on September 18th. (13)

14. UCLA competed at the Nevada Twilight Classic with runners competing for a top seven spot. UCLA competes next at the Mustang Challenge on September 19th.  (14)

15. Georgetown will begin to show followers how they respond to the loss of two of their top six at the Navy Invitational on September 12.   (15)

16.  BYU dominated the BYU Autumn Classic (15) with freshman Dallin Farnsworth beating NCAA veteran Aaron Fletcher at the finish.  Next is the WCC Preview on September 19th in Spokane.  (16)

17. Portland won the Lewis and Clark Invitational with runners looking for a top seven spot. The next race is Western Oregon Invitational on September 11.   (17)

18. Washington won the season opening UW-Seattle Open and took eight of the first eleven spots on the 4.5 mile course with Andrew Gardner getting the victory. Next is the Sundodger Invitational on September 19th.   (18)

19. UTEP’s six runners dominated the 6000m race and ran as a pack at the Texas Tech/NM State dual. The Lori Fitzgerald Classic is next on September 11.   (19)

20.  Furman took the top ten spots at the Queens Twilight using runners competing for a lower top seven spot.  The next race is the Furman Cross Country Classic on September 12.   (20)

Of Interest

Louisville won the Evansville Early Bird Opener with many of the Cardinals running easily. Their next race is the Vanderbilt Invitational on September 19th.

Arkansas ran at the Cowboy Preview and gave some of their younger runners some experience.  Next for the Razorbacks is the Iona Meet of Champions on September 19th.

Georgia ran as a pack and finished 2-7 at Struts cross country season opener to dominate. Their next race is the Furman Cross country Invitational on September 12th.

Campbell dominated a dual meet against UNCW (16-39). Their next race is the Adidas Cross Country Challenge on September 18th.

NCAA D1 Men Cross Country