Coach:
Steve Gulley (13th Year)

 

Last Year:
1st Conference USA

2nd Midwest Region

27th NCAA

 

Probable Top Five:

JR Marc Scott (8:13 3k; 14:13 5k; 5th Midwest XC '13; 193rd NCAA XC '13)

SO Adam Palamar (3:38 1500m; 8:20 3k)

SR Danny Thater (8:06 3k; 14:03 5k; 8:45 3k Steeple; 5th CUSA XC '13, 244th NCAA XC '13)

SR Dennis Hodapp (8:21 3k; 14:21 5k; 29:55 10k; 15th Midwest XC '13; 141 NCAA XC '13)

JR Tim Rackers (8:13 3k; 14:12 5k; 30:40 10k; 168th NCAA XC '13)

 

Impact Freshman/Recruits:

Ellis Coon - Warsaw, IN (4:13 1600m;  9:19 3200m; 3rd Indiana State XC '13)

 

Analysis:
So last year at this time, we had Tulsa ranked 15th going in and there were times during the season when they looked to be better than that, but it was not a "good weather day" for mere Hurricanes, and they limped in at 27th.

 

This year, the Flying Scot, Chris O’Hare (NCAA indoor mile champ) and his British compatriot, Andrew Heyes, is gone and it will take their fellow Brit, Marc Scott and Canadian miler, Adam Palamar to lead Coach Steve Gulley’s team back to the NCAA with the hope of finding a course that better suits them this year.

 

Tulsa is consistently the third best D1 school in the state in cross country, and it is shown in their roster. None of their prospective scorers are from Oklahoma, and Gulley has gone searching internationally for the talent to compete. And he has been successful, scoring Scott, who was a British Olympic Trials Qualifier in the 10,000 in 2012. Scott has the chops to run better this year than his 193rd at the NCAA. More indicative is his 5th last year in the Midwest.

 

And then there is Adam Palamar. The young Ottawa, Canada bred runner popped a big 1500m in 3:38, giving a glimpse of the future that Palamar has. However, can he do anything similar to that over 10k this fall on the grass in Indiana? Coach Gulley is counting on it.

 

Danny Thater is a solid mid team runner for Tulsa. He has a 14:02 5k and an 8:45 3k steeple to his credit. He is a senior and along with fellow 4th year teammate, Dennis Hodapp, will provide mettle to this team at the championship meets.

 

Tim Rackers could be the difference maker for Gulley’s boys. He has run 14:12 for 5000m and 30:40 for 10k at the conference meet and he did best Scott and Thater in last year’s championships.

 

Coach Gulley reached into Indiana to get his best quality recruit for this season, Ellis Coon from Warsaw. He was third in the Indiana State cross country meet and then clocked a 4:13 1600m. He has a chance to help even as a freshman, although probably as a 6th or 7th  man.

 

Scott and Palamar owe the coach a good effort at this year’s race. They certainly have the talent to do so. With O’Hare gone, it is time for Scott to step up and show his true quality.

#29 Women's Team - Texas A&M
#30 Men's Team - Princeton