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#1 Colorado Buffaloes 



They made history at the Rocky Mountain Shootout, torched the field at Pre-Nats and dropped another low score (30 pts) at Pac-12s to essentially prove that no one would touch them this year. The Buffaloes will cap off a dream season on Saturday in Terre Haute by winning their second consecutive national title.

With Blake Theroux and Ben Saarel, the Buffaloes have two potential top ten guys that are among the best tactical runners in the NCAA. At Pre-Nats, Theroux and Saarel moved up 10 and 11 spots respectively over the last 3k to finish 2nd and 4th, leading the Buffaloes to a 35-91 whipping of a potential podium team, the Oregon Ducks. But the greatest thing about this Buffs team is that their 1-7 are interchangeable, giving them a full team of low sticks. Going from 8k to 10k essentially gives this team another 2k of real estate to move up and close hard on the unforgiving Lavern Gibson course while the unfortunate begin to fade. On Saturday, the Buffaloes will be charging hard over that last 2k, and we have them putting six runners in the top 15. Impossible? Ridiculous? Not for the Wetmore Factor.

 

Projected Top Seven:

1. Blake Theroux

2. Ben Saarel

3. Connor Winter

4. Jake Hurysz

5. Ammar Moussa

6. Pierce Murphy

7. Adam Peterman

#2 Syracuse Orange

The Orange finished runner-up to Oregon in Boston, and unlucky for us, we didn’t think much of it. After they took the win at the adidas Wisconsin Invite with 85 points, we knew Syracuse was the team to watch (and they let us have it!).

They placed runners 7-14-17-23-24 and have a sure All American leader in Martin Hehir. The junior won his first ACC title, leading the Orange to 32 points - 58 points better than the runner-up team. Their advantage? 'Cuse has compiled seven interchangable men that have mastered the art of pack running. Their depth is the second-best in the NCAA (to Colorado) and if they execute the race plan like Wisco, they’ll be hard to beat. Their one factor: true freshman Justyn Knight. The Canadian import has been a solid top five man all season, but rested regionals and has yet to see a 10k. 

Projected Top Seven:

1. Martin Hehir

2. Max Straneva

3. Justyn Knight

4. MJ Erb

5. Joel Hubbard

6. Dan Lennon

7. Colin Bennie
 

#3 Oklahoma State Cowboys

One of the hardest teams to predict going into the NCAA championships this season is the Cowboys of Oklahoma State. Since 2009, OK State has been a podium team, with titles in 2009, 2010 and 2012. After finishing third last year, the Cowboys want revenge. But based on their season, does anyone know how good this team is?

Senior Kirubel Erassa is three-for-three with races this season, taking Big 12 and Midwest Region victories. His 13:27 5k time from outdoor is something to mention too. But times mean nothing in Terre Haute, and his 83rd and 102nd place finishes the last two NCAA Championships don’t necessarily make him a clear shot. Coach Dave Smith’s plans of minimal team racing give the Cowboys an mysterious allure that bends us to dwell on their past performances, in hopes they’ll land a spot on the podium this weekend. With their 20-second 1-5 spread at Big 12s, and 20-second 2-5 spread at the Midwest Region, the Cowboys are putting in all the marbles to bring another piece of history back to Stillwater.

Projected Top Seven:

1. Kirubel Erassa

2. Fabian Clarkson

3. Craig Nowak

4. Shane Moskowitz

5. David Osborn

6. Vegard Oelstad

7. Cerake Geberkidane


#4 Iona Gaels

Iona coach Ricardo Santos rested top frosh Chartt Miller last Friday, which made all the difference between earning an auto spot and placing 3rd behind Syracuse and Providence at the Northeast region. Obviously, Iona was going to qualify no matter what happened at regionals, but it was interesting that Jake Byrne went for the win, while the rest of his teammates remained composed and saved any and all energy for Terre Haute. Why did Byrne go, but the rest of the Gaels stayed put? We don’t know, but based off of conventional cross country wisdom, Iona has the tools to be successful at NCAAs, that being a low-stick (Byrne), and a tight pack behind him (1-5 spread was 25 seconds at Wisco w/o #2 Kieran Clements).

The Gaels will have to rely on good outings from two freshmen (Miller and Gilbert Kirui), but they proved that they could work together at Wisco, so the expectation is for that to happen again in Terre Haute. Relying on freshmen is a no-no at NCAAs, but for the Gaels to grab a trophy it’s a reality they must face.

Projected Top Seven: 

1. Jake Byrne

2. Kieran Clements

3. Chartt Miller

4. Gilbert Kirui

5. Mike O’Dowd

6. Andrew Kowalsky

7. Brandon Allen