John Dressel via Cobert, WA (8:50 2 Mile; 2nd FL ’13; 6th FL ’14)

Joe Klecker via Minnetonka, MN (4:04 Mile; 8:59 2 Mile; 47th NXN ’14)

The 2014 Colorado Buffaloes had one of the best teams in NCAA history, as they ended last season by scoring just 65 points to win their second consecutive national title, the lowest score at NCAAs since the 2005 Wisconsin Badgers won with 37. 

 

After only losing one man out of their top five from last year, the Buffaloes have rightfully retained their #1 ranking in 2015 as they look to win their third straight NCAA title this fall. And since they replace All-American Blake Theroux with another All-American in Morgan Pearson, we think they’ll do just that. This team is just as good, if not better, than they were a year ago. They return FIVE All-Americans for crying out loud.

 

Legendary Coach Mark Wetmore once again has a roster full of potential low sticks, including two top ten NCAA finishers from 2014 in Ammar Moussa and Ben Saarel. Moussa had an unbelievable race in Terre Haute last fall, finishing 5th overall and the Buffs’ #1 after placing 95th just one year prior. Moussa will be coming off the best track season of his career, including a victory in the PAC-12 10K, so another top ten finish in 2015 seems probable. 

 

Saarel has proven himself to be one of the best cross country runners in the nation during his two years at Colorado, as he finished top ten at NCAAs in both his freshman and sophomore seasons. The junior always runs a tactically smart race, and has proven himself to be Mr. Reliable since the day he arrived on campus. Saarel embodies everything that makes Colorado such a powerhouse in cross country, i.e. consistency, patience, and level-headedness.

 

Three more formidable All-Americans make the Buffaloes nearly impossible to beat. Morgan Pearson sat out last fall, because, well, Colorado was so deep they didn’t need him. The senior returns to the XC course after a two year hiatus, with his last cross country race being the 2013 NCAA Championships where he finished 17th. Pearson slots into CU’s #3 spot after a track season that saw him run PR’s in the 3K, 5K, and 10K.

 

While most teams see a significant talent drop-off from the 1-3 guys to their 4-5, Colorado certainly does not. Senior All-Americans Pierce Murphy and Connor Winter are back after they each played a huge part in last year’s national title, and both are top-20 capable heading into this season. Murphy is fresh off a 5th place finish in the NCAA 10K, while Winter was the PAC-12 steeple champion.  

 

If Colorado is on their game in November, there is not a single team in the country who can beat them. With the firepower that Wetmore returns in 2015, it’s going to take a monumental upset for anyone other than the Buffaloes to stand atop the podium in Louisville. Being the huge favorite comes with a lot of pressure, but if there’s one team that knows how to handle it, it’s Colorado.