NCAA XC Countdown #14: Notre Dame Men and Oklahoma State Women

Aug 9, 2013 by Isaac Wood

For the next few weeks, 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. Feel free to follow him on Twitter, too.

View the full NCAA Top 31 Countdown HERE.

#14

Notre Dame Men

Head Coach: Joe Piane (39th Season)

2012 National Finish- 28th

Key Returners from 2012

Jeremy Rae (Sr., 3:38 1500m, 8:11 Open 3k, 13:59 5k)
Martin Grady (Sr., 14:20 5k, 29:14 10k, former outdoor nationals qualifier in 10k '11-20th)
J.P. Malette (Sr., 3:45 1500m, 8:16 Open 3k, 14:13 5k)
Walter Schafer (Sr., 8:23 Open 3k, 14:37 5k, All-Great Lakes Region '12)
Jake Kildoo (Jr., 8:13 Open 3k, 14:14 5k, 29:26 10k, East Regional Qualifier in 10k '12)
Michael Clevenger (So., 8:12 Open 3k, 14:21 5k)

Impact Recruits/Transfers

Kris Moran (Fr., 4:13 1600m, 9:08 3200m, 10th NBON 2 Mile '12, 7th NBIN 2 Mile '12)
Scott Milling (Fr., 27th NXN '12, NXN Qualifier '11, 27th FL Finals '12)

Season Preview

The question for Notre Dame heading into the 2013 season is not whether they are going to be good, but how good? Getting Jeremy Rae and J.P. Malette one more year of eligibility was huge for the Irish as (before Rae got hurt) they were consistently the no. 1 and no. 3 runners for them. Coach Piane has developed these athletes so well and has patiently waited for them to all be seniors where they can do their most damage.

If there was ever a year to jump on the Notre Dame bandwagon, this is it. Here's why:

Jeremy Rae is one of the best 1500m runners in the country who is also just as valuable out on the cross country course (Rae has good range, see his PRs above). Liken him to a Miles Batty, or Chris O'Hare, whose talents on the track do not only apply to the track, but he is this team's leader out on the course as well and must have a great year for the Irish to do what they are capable of.

Martin Grady is one of the most underrated athletes in the NCAA. He is a pure cross country guy and was so close to All-American last season that he is definitely looking at a top-40 spot for 2013. Grady has qualified for Outdoor Track Nationals in the 10k (2012) and has been a pretty consistent 10000m runner for the last few years.

J.P. Malette is a well-rounded athlete with good PRs ranging from 1500-5k. He is the perfect no. 3 runner because he provides stability to their pack of seven and should be the guy to keep the spread close and bring a few of his teammates with him.

A few of those teammates include: Walter Schafer, Jake Kildoo, Patrick Lesiewicz and D.J. Thornton. These runners should make up the rest of the Irish top seven, but not forgetting to mention Michael Clevenger (a very good prep runner) and a few of the new additions.

These new additions, Kris Moran and Scott Milling, are definitely capable of making their way into the top seven by the end of the season. Moran has solid experience on the track at the highest levels running well at both New Balance Indoors and Outdoors in the 2-Mile. Scott Milling is another pure cross country type that finished 27th at both FL Finals and NXN. This kind of practical experience, he could be ready to step right into the scoring picture.

The Irish are definitely an ACC contender, one of the favorites at the Great Lakes Regional, and is certainly a top-15 caliber team. The good news for Notre Dame is that making NCAAs is almost guaranteed and with them being able to focus not on just making the meet, but racing well there, this could be one of the best Notre Dame teams Coach Piane has had in years.

#14

Oklahoma State Women

Head Coach: Dave Smith (5th Season)

2012 National Finish- 26th

Key Returners from 2012

Monika Juodeskaite (Jr., 9:10 Open 3k, 16:17 5k, 41st NCAA XC '12)
Natalja Piliusina (Sr., 2:02.16 800m, 4:09.51 1500m, NCAA 1500m Champ '12)
Caileigh Glenn (Sr., 4:22 1500m, West Regional Track Qualifier 1500m '12
Victoria Hanna (Jr., 9:43 Open 3k, 16:53 5k)
Kate Kujawa (Sr., 9:48 Open 3k, 10:15 3k Steeple, NCAA Outdoor Qualifier 3k Steeple '12)

Impact Recruits/Transfers

Samantha Nightingale (Redshirt Fr, 2-Time MO State Champ, 4:56 1600m, 10:33 3200m)

Season Preview

In order to have a top-15 finish at any NCAA meet there is some criteria that needs to be met. First, you need to have a couple of good low-sticks, which normally equates to two All-American performing athletes. Next, a good group of experienced athletes that provide depth and maturity. Finally, a coach that has been there and done that.

Oklahoma State in 2013 meets all of that criteria. Monika Juodeskaite and Natalja Piliusina are a very strong 1-2 for the Cowgirls. The 'Pokes also bring back six of their top seven and also have a few more solid athletes that did not compete much for them last season that should factor in during this upcoming season. Dave Smith is obviously a very proven coach with the men and finally has a good group of talented girls that will be able to make a splash at the Big Dance.

Monika Juodeskaite is the real deal. Her open 3k PR is very very good (9:10) and was one spot away last year of being All-American. If she progresses like she should she will be looking at a top-30 finish and very crucial low-stick points.

Natalja Piliusina is the most talented athlete on this team. She is now the reigning the 1500m Champion outdoors from 2013. Anyone would be hard pressed to find someone with better leg speed in any field that Piliusina is racing in, in 2013. This kind of athletic ability, and coming off the great season she had in track, should translate to an All-American year for Natalja as well. If that is the case, these two legitimate front-runners for Oklahoma State will be huge for their overall team finish at Nats.

The rest of the four women remaining that return from last seasons remotely disappointing NCAA finish (26th) are all good, consistent and stable pack runners that will be battling for the 3-7 spots the entire season. This group includes Caileigh Glenn (probably the next best girl on the squad) Victoria Hanna, Kate Kujawa and Taylor Light. With the experience that these girls have at a high level, hopefully they put the summer miles in necessary to come ready to rock and roll for 2013. These athletes' 2013 seasons will make or break the year for Oklahoma State. If they do improve like they should and step-up this is a top-15 team. If not things could get ugly pretty fast.

The good news is that there a few other women that could also move their way up that have not been mentioned yet. Adela Hofmannova, Natalie Baker and Samantha Nightingale are all wildcards for the Cowgirls. Baker is a pure cross country runner and therefore she could be someone that makes the Okey State top five by the end of the season. Hofmannova is talented and with some good upside and Nightingale is an experienced two-time high school state xc champ.

There certainly are a lot of question marks for this Oklahoma State squad and how good they really could be. No doubt they will have a very good 1-2 punch up front, if the rest of the team can rise to the occasion, these girls will be able to get through the Midwest Regional and prove themselves at Terre Haute.