NCAA XC Countdown #31: Toledo Women and MSU Men

Jul 29, 2013 by Isaac Wood

For the next month, The Wood Report will be counting down projected team finishes in this year's NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute, IN. Make sure to stay up-to-date with The Wood Report throughout the season. You should follow Isaac Wood on Twitter, too.

View the full NCAA Top 31 Countdown HERE.

#31

Toledo Women

Head Coach: Linh Nguyen (1st Season)

2012 National Finish: 28th

Key Returners from 2012

Priscilla Timmons (Jr., 4:36, 17:16)
Liz Weiler (Jr., 17:05, 10:21 3k Steeple)
Devyn Ramsay (Sr., 16:59, 36:04)
Mackenzie Chojnacky (Jr., 9:32 open 3k, 16:25)

Season Preview

The Rockets are coming off of an interesting year full of a lot of unwanted press and a par for the course showing at nationals. In January 2013, Coach Kevin Hadsell resigned on the heels of an investigation concerning his inappropriate interactions with athletes. Toledo put together an OK national championship race and closed out the season in 28^th.

Many things have changed and yet many things are the same for Toledo in 2013. With Hadsell done at Toledo, in comes an up-and-coming young coach from UNC-Greensboro named Linh Nguyen. Coach Nguyen is most known for coaching Paul Chelimo and Paul Katam to individual podium finishes in XC and in the 5000m and 10000m outdoors.

With little help on the recruiting side this season, the Rockets do welcome back their 2-7 from Louisville last November and also add one more athlete that competed for them at the regional, but not at nationals, Stephanie Ingraham. What Toledo is missing this season is a front-runner, low-stick option to turn to for leadership and smaller points at bigger meets.

Some of the options for this job are Liz Weiler and Priscilla Timmons who tended to switch off as the no. 2-3 runners all season. If these two are able to step up they can provide a solid 1-2 punch heading into the 2013. Mackenzie Chojnacky has the best PRs of the group and should also be considered as a possible no. 1 runner.

There are some other talented middle distance-type women that if they are able to make the leap to 6k, will also be a factor in the top seven. These may include redshirt freshman Therese Warsecke (4:28.43) and senior Megan Wright (4:34.52), who has some XC experience.

A projected 31^st finish is definitely the worst possible scenario for Toledo. Getting out of the Great Lakes region will be difficult, just as a 5th place finish in 2012 proved to be as well, but if the seven girls that return from a good, but troubled 2012 season, can progress and improve steadily, Coach Nguyen could have a surprisingly good young team.

#31

Michigan State Men

Head Coach: Walt Drenth (8th Season)

2012 National Finish: 31st

Key Returners from 2012

Caleb Rhynard (So., 13:57)
David Madrigal (Jr., 14:02, 30:15)
Ben Carruthers (Jr., 14:19)
Alex Wilson (Jr., 8:25 open 3k, 14:15)

Impact Recruits/Transfers
- Nathan Burnand (Fr., 4:16, 9:08)

Season Preview

An amazing Great Lakes Regional race allowed the Spartans to make their first trip as a team to NCAAs since 2009. After seemingly peaking at the regional meet and with some disappointing races Michigan State finished the 2012 season out in the same place they start the 2013 season – ranked #31^st in the country.

With a last place finish at NCAAs at first it might be difficult to see how they would be making another appearance to nationals with only four members of the ’12 squad returning. But looks can be deceiving.

Caleb Rhynard returns as the team leader coming off of an outstanding freshman campaign placing 158^th individually at NCAAs and being the Spartan’s no. 1 runner. Also returning is Alex Wilson, who although had a poor showing in Louisville, was the no. 1 runner at the regional.

Leadership from departing seniors Josh McAlary and Ben Miller will be missed, but the wonderful outdoor season Rhynard had in ’13, he comes into this XC season as the team leader.

Nathan Burnand is the lone impact recruit the Spartan’s have for 2012 (according to milesplit.com) and therefore will be depended on to make an impact on Michigan State’s traveling squad.

Other possible options of scoring members for Michigan State in 2013 are: Fr. Reed Payant (8:44 open 3k, 14:37) and Austin Wissler (3:48).

Another bid for a championships qualification is definitely doable with a depleted Wisconsin team and Indiana losing their 1-2 punch. If Rhynard can be the low-stick the Spartan’s so desperately need, this team will be back at the national meet in Terre Haute in November.