So we’ve finally arrived. What. A. Ride. The story is almost complete on the 2015 NCAA cross country season. 

 

No more “who’s in/who’s out” nonsense, the 31-team fields have officially been assembled with another wild Regional Friday in the rearview mirror. The fat has been trimmed and only the very best remain, as the unforgiving Kolas Calculator has taken its share of victims once again this season. Those who missed out on a spot are surely heartbroken, as November 21st in Louisville has been circled on countless calendars for months. But for those who came out on the other side better for it, the fun has only just begun. 

 

The NCAA Championships beckon, and I don’t think there’s any other day on the running calendar that can stand up to the excitement or the intensity of college cross country’s National meet. The atmosphere is just special. It’s cold. It’s loud. The race is hectic and impossibly deep with talent. And more than ever, the pressure is very real. 

 

Certain teams (and individuals) will receive more attention than others, but I’ve taken it upon myself in this space to give everyone equal sway. Much will be written on the Colorado’s, New Mexico’s, Syracuse’s, and Stanford’s of the world in the coming days, but here I want to look at every team, albeit in the quickest way possible. May I now present all 62 NCAA-qualifying squads, each described in just one sentence. 

 

MEN

Florida State- 2014 NCAA cellar dwellers win the South region as JUCO transfer Harry Mulenga looks legit. 

 

Ole Miss- We ranked the Rebels 5th in the preseason, oops! 

 

Arkansas- One of the surprise teams of 2015, the Razorbacks had a different #1 at every race. 

 

Texas- A rebuilding year for the Longhorns, but the South Central is always kind to Texas.

 

Syracuse- The best 1-2-3 punch in the country makes ‘Cuse an NCAA threat.

 

Iona- The Gaels have podium potential with Chartt Miller and Kieran Clements in peak form. 

 

Louisville- Fifth at ACCs, Louisville stuns SE region by finally getting a 5th man.

 

Virginia- Sophomore Henry Wynne emerges as a star, promising Cavaliers have just one senior.

 

Georgetown- Mid-Atlantic champs are the NCAA’s best kept secret with zero seniors in the top seven.

 

Penn- Quakers are NCAA qualifiers for the first time in 40 years.

 

Michigan- We made a movie and they won Big Ten's.

 

Michigan State- All-American Caleb Rhynard bounces back from injury to help Sparty earn an auto.

 

Oklahoma State- Not super impressive on Friday, but don’t doubt Dave Smith. 

 

Minnesota- 23 teams beat the Gophers at Pre-Nats, but only one did at Midwest Region. 

 

Colorado- On the verge of a three-peat as Wetmore plugs Ben Saarel back into lineup.

 

UTEP- Miners auto-qualify led by nation’s best duo of Anthony Rotich and Jonah Koech.  

 

Washington- Huskies go from fourth at PAC-12s to West region champions on the backs of career days from Tyler King and Andrew Gardner.

 

Stanford- THE ROSAS ARE BACK AND I WAS WRONG.

 

BYU- No superstars but Cougars showed their pedigree with runner-up finish at Wisco.

 

Oregon- Edward Cheserek is still the best, and OMG the 2016 recruiting class…

 

Eastern Kentucky- Amos Kosgey is a game changer, Colonels finish third in Southeast.

 

Furman- Paladins always have a tidy spread, also what is a Paladin?

 

N.C. State- Meron Simon is one of the best transfers in the country. 

 

Thought to myself: This article sounded a lot better in theory…

 

Oklahoma- 2014 Jacob Burcham Regionals: 48th, 2015 Jacob Burcham Regionals: 2nd. 

 

Tulsa- Marc “Great” Scott has not lost this season. 

 

Virginia Tech- Thomas Curtin beat Edward Cheserek this season.

 

Washington State- I don’t know anyone on Washington State but they’re going to NCAAs, what a year!

 

Boise State- Top seven are all freshmen and sophomores.

 

California- Cal is going dancin’ as 2-5 runners had career days at West region. 

 

UCLA- Bruins round out seven West teams heading to Louisville.

 

Southern Utah- Thunderbirds are the last team in and we’re halfway done!

 

[BREATHE]

WOMEN

Vanderbilt- Commodores are led by true freshman Caroline Pietrzyk.

 

Mississippi State- They’re going to NCAAs for the first time ever!

 

Arkansas- Dom Scott.

 

Texas- 40th at Pre-Nats and they’re going to NCAAs because South Central, again. 

 

Virginia- Under the radar all season, they have podium aspirations. 

 

N.C. State- Ryen Frazier hit the freshman wall, but the ‘Pack have a bright future. 

 

Providence- Sarah Collins’ return makes Providence a podium team. 

 

Syracuse- Senior Margo Malone leads a veteran group back to NCAAs.

 

Penn State- You didn’t forget about Tessa Barrett, did you?

 

Georgetown- No Sam Nadel has hurt the Hoyas in 2015.

 

Oklahoma State- They haven’t lost a meet this season, but they don’t race anyone either. 

 

Iowa State- Cyclones can’t match 2014 talent, but Rotich and Hooker are studs.

 

Michigan- 17-second spread at Great Lakes region, be afraid!

 

Notre Dame- Molly Seidel is coming for you, Foot Locker curse!

 

New Mexico- The greatest cross country team I’ve ever seen.

 

Colorado- They just beat the greatest cross country team I’ve ever seen, kinda.

 

Oregon- Waverly Neer just keeps getting better and the Ducks have a podium finish in sight.

 

Boise State- Allie Oh My Gosh A Freshman Is Going To Win NCAAs.

 

Washington- FREE SPACE

 

Stanford- Aisling Cuffe dislikes the Foot Locker curse.

 

Utah- See: Mississippi State

 

BYU-  Cougars prove you don’t need a front runner to make NCAAs: top finisher at Regionals was 18th. 

 

San Francisco- Freshman Weronika Pyzik: 145th at Pre-Nats, 8th in West region.

 

Gonzaga- See: Utah

 

Princeton- No Megan Curham, no problem.

 

Michigan State- Spartans are missing all of their top five from 2014 National Championship team.

 

Weber State- It’s Weee-ber, not Webb-er.

 

Minnesota- It will be tough to top this:
 

 

Tulsa- 2nd time at NCAAs ever!

 

Kansas- The Midwest got 5 teams?

 

Villanova- Picking up the slack for the men’s team.

 

SEE YOU IN LOUISVILLE!