NCAA XC Countdown #27: New Mexico Women and Michigan 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.

#27

New Mexico Women

Head Coach: Joe Franklin (7th Season)

2012 National Finish- 10th

Key Returners from 2012

Charlotte Arter (Sr., 4:16,16:20)
Kirsten Follett (Jr., 16:45)
Chloe Anderson (Sr., 4:19)
Janna Mitsos (Sr., 16:28)

Impact Recruits/Transfers

Joanne Harvey (Sr., 4:17, 9;13 Open 3k)

Season Preview

Only three of the top seven girls from 2012s 10th place team return for 2013 and the bad news for all the teams in the Mountain West and the Mountain regional is that these Lobos could be just as good this year as last. Granted they are ranked #27 going into the season, purely due to the fact that only one of the returners from 2012 actually scored for New Mexico at the big time meets.

Never fear Lobo fans, with Joe Franklin at the helm, your teams will always reload. Franklin is the master of finding recruits to come to Albuquerque at the blink of an eye from the U.K. (or anywhere else) and instantly make an impact in their top five.

With Charlotte Arter returning for her senior year to lead the Lobos she must take on the leadership role that Imogen Ainsworth performed so well in during the 2012 season. Arter is coming off of a good track season where she finished 14th overall in the 1500m. With her ability in cross and her range on the track she can be dangerous and will be counted on to lead this somewhat inexperienced crew.

Chloe Anderson also returns for the Lobos with momentum after having a very good year on the track in comparison to her cross country season. Anderson struggled to find a rhythm in cross during the 2012 season, but hit her stride (literally) during the spring outdoor track season where she found herself at the Outdoor National Championships in the 1500m and placed 15th individually. If she can be the athlete she was in track out on the xc course, she will be a significant force at the front of the pack.

Follett and Mitsos both had outstanding track seasons with the two of the breaking huge PRs in the 5000m and will be looked up on to anchor the Lobos 1-5 and keep the spread as close as possible.

The one harrier who could make the biggest impact in 2013 is Joanne Harvey who did not compete in 2012. A transfer from Devon, England, Harvey finished third overall at the World Junior Cross Country Championships in 2010 and was fourth at the British Universities Cross Country meet in 2010 as well. If she can jump right into the mix and perform like she did during the her 2010 xc season, she will make a huge contribution up front.

With this team looking as good as they do, it is actually hard to see them finishing this far behind, but the key to this group is consistency. New Mexico must find a solid 1-5 that can be counted on to perform at a high level in all the big races. If that does happen, these Lobos could better their 2012 national finish of 10th place and blow this #27 ranking out of the water.

#27

Michigan Men

Head Coach: Alex Gibby (4th Season)

2012 National Finish- 23rd

Key Returners from 2012

Mark Beams (Sr., 14:06, 29:36)
Brendon Blacklaws (Sr., 3:46, 8:08 Open 3k)
Morsi Rayyan (Sr., 13:57, 29:43)
Mason Ferlic (So., 8:41 3k Steeple, 14:15)

Impact Recruits/Transfers

Connor Mora (Fr., 4:09 Mile, Foot Locker Finalist)

Season Preview

After a disappointing Nationals showing in 2012, the Big Blue are re-loaded and ready for redemption in 2013. Although the loss of key seniors Dan Lowry and Bobby Aprill (not as much in xc) will hurt, the Wolverines are looking to come back stronger than they were in Louisville.

Mark Beams returns as the no. 1 finisher in Louisville last November and will be looked upon for leadership. Beams followed up a good xc season with a productive track season hitting PRs in both the 5000m and 10000m. If this momentum can carry through the summer, he will be a strong no. 1.

Along with Beams, Brendon Blacklaws was possibly the most consistent runner on Michigan's team last season. Blacklaws finished between 2-5 in every race in 2012 and will be counted on to be just as consistent this year. This will be his last season as a collegian and that should be motivation enough to use go from being a miler to a 10k guy over a summer.

Mason Ferlic is coming into his second real cross country season (last year only competed in the first meet of the year, Panorama Farms, VA) and was the no. 7 in 2011, at Michigan. Ferlic surprised many in the spring with his outstanding steeple ability and had an amazing finish to the 2013 season. A fourth place East Regional finish and a fourteenth finish nationally should provide him the momentum and motivation to be a key contributor in the top five.

Morsi Rayyan and Tony Smoragiewicz were also solid pack runners for the Wolverines in 2012 and if their progression goes in the right direction can also be impact players in the Michigan pack.

After going over the nice returning crew that Michigan has, they are also bringing in a very good prep runner, Connor Mora. A good miler (4:09), Mora also has xc capability, having proven that by making the Foot Locker Finals. Their five is good enough that he might end up being a 6-7 runner, but if he can crack their top five it will only prove how deep this team really is.

The Great Lakes Regional is wide open this year, similar to the Mountain Region on the women's side, with the depleted teams in Wisconsin and Indiana. This being the case, Michigan is definitely the favorite to win that title. Don't let this ranking deceive you, (#27 is only preemptive because only a few of their athletes are proven xc runners, Beams, Blacklaws, Smoragiewicz) this team can be very dangerous as the season progresses and could see them jump in the rankings after some of the big early meets (Wisco, Pre-Nats, Griak, Notre Dame, etc).