Saturday, August 9, 2008
Pre Season Prediction-Women
Did the men's prediction the other day so here is my attempt at the women. From all the emails I have not received I assume there are about 4 people reading what I have to say. No one cares about the south region. I have heard for years the South Region is weak but I will argue that until the end!
With that said here it goes with the women's predictions and it looks good for the Sunshine State
1. FSU- Considering they were 3rd at NCAA's last year and return 4 of their top 5 from that team this was an easy choice. Even easier than Alabama on the men's side. For as much criticism that Karen Harvey takes, her teams sure are responding well. Hanah England is a much better runner that at this time last year and if she can step up and replace Barbra Parker FSU is sitting nice. How nice, well considering they have Leslie Van Miert (NCAA 5000m finalist outdoors) transferring in from NAU this team is better than last years.
2. Florida- Todd Morgan has one good team and they will be making the trip to the NCAA's in Terra haute, IN. Leading off this team will be Rebecca Lowe who last year a freshmen finished off the season with All American Honors at 5000 meters and ran a massive pr of 15:53 to achieve this. the team returns everyone but Lindsay Sundell but replaces her with an Aussie who has run 9:30 for 3km and a transfer from UNLV. This team is solid and should be sitting pretty in 2nd
3. UGA- In a tight battle with Tennessee for this position. With Natalie P returning to lead this squad, Jeff Pigg has a team that could be at NCAA's. Now that prediction has many ifs, if Makayla Plank is healthy, if Jill Skinner is running, if freshmen Kristy Kreuger is healthy after fighting mono so like I said if if if. So I hope this all happens but IF not UGA could fall way down this list. I'm an optimist and I like Coach Pigg so UGA girls are all healthy and fit and they will run well
4. Tennessee- Sarah Bowman will lead them up front and should make nationals, if JJ hasn't raced her into the ground and she is exhausted come regional. I think that is what happened last year. Heidi Magill didn't come back but she is the only non returner. Jackie Areson, Katie Van Horn, Leah Soro and Brittany Sheffy add a wonderful supporting cast. They don't have a lot of depth so one injury and this team could sink.
5. Auburn- They will have a very big jump this year but like Tennessee they are very thin in depth. Led off by All American at 5000m outdoors, Sophomore Hollie Knight who didn't run regionals last year and caused Auburn to tank it down down down the results (are you listening tennessee) They have a solid second in Laura Pritchard who was an NCAA provisional qualifer at 10,000m outdoors. 3,4 and 5 will pack nicely and bump them into the top 6 teams.
6. Alabama- This is like a party for the SEC, only as we saw earlier FSU crashed it and then quickly staked its spot in front of the punch bowl. So back to Alabama ho is another team that is quickly improving under new coach Randy Hasenback. Betty Rotich last years NJCAA cross country runner up will lead this team and start them off with a low score. Hayley Moody the crimson tides top runner last fall as a frosh will give them a very good two spot and then their freshmen from texas will be third. Randy is getting is role players to improve and they will be the key to Alabama being 6th.
7. The SEC party continues! Vanderbilt for 7th. Another solid recruiting class and the return of Rita Jorgenson and pretty much the rest of the team puts them in 7th. They could move as high as 5th as the battle with Auburn, Alabama and Vanderbilt will be tight. Steve Keith has a young team with a lot of talent and they are going to get better and better each year
8. Georgia State with 4 of the top 5 girls back from last year this is a solid team, although the lack of a front runner and the turmoil in the athletic department could play into the teams chemistry and attitude. I hope the team can get past all the distractions and run well but there is lots going on in Atlanta
9. Georgia Tech- Drosky will lead a group of women who will become engineers to another top ten regional finish. I like Georgia tech because I like Atlanta but running on the streets around GT must get kind of boring for these girls. Great battle for 2nd place honors in the state of Georgia between tech and State.
10. UAB is tenth but if they hit it really well they could be 9th! They graduated 3 of there top 5 from last year and I know another one of their returners ended up with like ten stress fractures in her shins last outdoors. They signed two international girls who will help keep this team in the top ten.
With that said here it goes with the women's predictions and it looks good for the Sunshine State
1. FSU- Considering they were 3rd at NCAA's last year and return 4 of their top 5 from that team this was an easy choice. Even easier than Alabama on the men's side. For as much criticism that Karen Harvey takes, her teams sure are responding well. Hanah England is a much better runner that at this time last year and if she can step up and replace Barbra Parker FSU is sitting nice. How nice, well considering they have Leslie Van Miert (NCAA 5000m finalist outdoors) transferring in from NAU this team is better than last years.
2. Florida- Todd Morgan has one good team and they will be making the trip to the NCAA's in Terra haute, IN. Leading off this team will be Rebecca Lowe who last year a freshmen finished off the season with All American Honors at 5000 meters and ran a massive pr of 15:53 to achieve this. the team returns everyone but Lindsay Sundell but replaces her with an Aussie who has run 9:30 for 3km and a transfer from UNLV. This team is solid and should be sitting pretty in 2nd
3. UGA- In a tight battle with Tennessee for this position. With Natalie P returning to lead this squad, Jeff Pigg has a team that could be at NCAA's. Now that prediction has many ifs, if Makayla Plank is healthy, if Jill Skinner is running, if freshmen Kristy Kreuger is healthy after fighting mono so like I said if if if. So I hope this all happens but IF not UGA could fall way down this list. I'm an optimist and I like Coach Pigg so UGA girls are all healthy and fit and they will run well
4. Tennessee- Sarah Bowman will lead them up front and should make nationals, if JJ hasn't raced her into the ground and she is exhausted come regional. I think that is what happened last year. Heidi Magill didn't come back but she is the only non returner. Jackie Areson, Katie Van Horn, Leah Soro and Brittany Sheffy add a wonderful supporting cast. They don't have a lot of depth so one injury and this team could sink.
5. Auburn- They will have a very big jump this year but like Tennessee they are very thin in depth. Led off by All American at 5000m outdoors, Sophomore Hollie Knight who didn't run regionals last year and caused Auburn to tank it down down down the results (are you listening tennessee) They have a solid second in Laura Pritchard who was an NCAA provisional qualifer at 10,000m outdoors. 3,4 and 5 will pack nicely and bump them into the top 6 teams.
6. Alabama- This is like a party for the SEC, only as we saw earlier FSU crashed it and then quickly staked its spot in front of the punch bowl. So back to Alabama ho is another team that is quickly improving under new coach Randy Hasenback. Betty Rotich last years NJCAA cross country runner up will lead this team and start them off with a low score. Hayley Moody the crimson tides top runner last fall as a frosh will give them a very good two spot and then their freshmen from texas will be third. Randy is getting is role players to improve and they will be the key to Alabama being 6th.
7. The SEC party continues! Vanderbilt for 7th. Another solid recruiting class and the return of Rita Jorgenson and pretty much the rest of the team puts them in 7th. They could move as high as 5th as the battle with Auburn, Alabama and Vanderbilt will be tight. Steve Keith has a young team with a lot of talent and they are going to get better and better each year
8. Georgia State with 4 of the top 5 girls back from last year this is a solid team, although the lack of a front runner and the turmoil in the athletic department could play into the teams chemistry and attitude. I hope the team can get past all the distractions and run well but there is lots going on in Atlanta
9. Georgia Tech- Drosky will lead a group of women who will become engineers to another top ten regional finish. I like Georgia tech because I like Atlanta but running on the streets around GT must get kind of boring for these girls. Great battle for 2nd place honors in the state of Georgia between tech and State.
10. UAB is tenth but if they hit it really well they could be 9th! They graduated 3 of there top 5 from last year and I know another one of their returners ended up with like ten stress fractures in her shins last outdoors. They signed two international girls who will help keep this team in the top ten.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
2008 Pre season Predictions Men
1. Alabama. This was a very easy pick. I wish there could be a dark horse out there to make this race close but its not happening here. The only way Joe Walker and his kids don't win is if they don't show up. I mean they had an AMERICAN freshmen run 8:11 for 3000 indoors this past year and this kid will not even be a scorer for them. They lead off with Tyson David who could win the NCAA cross country title this fall. After Tyson (a very traditional Kenyan name by the way) the tide will roll through with Augustus Maiyo, Emmanuel Bor, Andrew Kirwa, Abraham Kutingala (being there 5th man who ran 29:00 as a freshmen two years ago but has been slowed with injuries).
2. Florida State-With a very solid 5 runners packing it in between 10-20 they are a safe bet at 2nd in this region. If rumours of Mark Buckingham being granted another year of eligibilty are true this could be a top 20 team at NCAA's. Buckingham was 8th last year in the region. They have Gabart returning who was 10th, Daniel Roberts who ran 3:45 outdoors and was 15th in the region and then they follow with Matt Leeder who as a freshmen was top 20 in the region and will close with Mr. Michael Fout the 2007 Footlocker champ. I wonder if FSU can ever pull off the triple crown.
3.Auburn - Just saw their recruting class and I had to make a change and bump them up two spots and rewrite their preview. They will hit it really hard up front with returning regional champ felix kibioywo, who outdoors won the SEC 1500 and made the final of the NCAA 5000. New addition Elkanah Kibet the NJCAA outdoor 10,000 champ will bring a very nice 1-2 to the tigers. With their Belgian kid who ran 13:55 outdoors at number three, Auburn matches up with Alabama and FSU very nice. Now here is where things chance I had them weak at 4 and 5 but finding out they signed Girma Mesecho changes a lot. A top ten footlocker kid for Auburn, that is crazy. Looks like the south region just got deeper. At five they have Scott Novack a 9:00 steepler and 14:20 5000 guy , and the rumor of an Aussie proved wrong as it ended up they got a Kiwi at six. This team could make NCAA's
4. Belmont. Last year was supposed to be their year but injuries and such took the wind out of their sail. They ended up with a very good regional meet in 4th position but I know they wanted a national berth. This could be the year, they return almost the same team as last and are being quiet about who they brought on board and where they are competing. Come on Belmont go to Pre nats and light it up. I want four teams from the south at the meet
5. Florida is here in 5th only because I don't know when they have ever been lower than this. They have a solid lead with Jeremy Criscione, who was an individual qualifier to the NCAA meet last year and will follow him, with my pick for break out star of the year, Sean Blaney. Following these 2 could be anyone else on the roster as it is young and unproven. Florida is rolling out the year with a new coach as well in Todd Morgan.
6. Tennessee-George Watts is a bad ass and a quality coach. I almost put them 5th just because of this. My guess is they will be led by a very talented freshmen in Joe Franklin and will follow him up with a bunch of guys none of you on the national scene will ever here of again. Guys like Denton Jones. These guys however will run with Volunteer pride and scrap for every position they can.
7. Mississippi State. Steve Dudley is awesome. This guy used to build boats and now he builds good cross country and track teams at Mississippi State University. I heard Bubba Franks (sounds like a great name for a hot dog) is now coaching the cross team so we will see. Not sure why their freshmen Blankenship left, his loss I guess. This crew recruits hard, coaches hard and is starting to get a respectable team together in Starkville.
8. Georgia-Jeff Pigg up and moved to one of the coolest little towns in the south, Athens Georgia. He moved to a fun town, with a nice campus and the number 1 football team in the country in the pre season. He also moved to a program whose men's cross needs some new life. (Had to edit this as it is not true) If the talk of Girma Mesecho going here are true then Pigg has at least one guy with a shot to make NCAA's, if not, then recruit Jeff, recruit hard! So Jeff recruit man and take that women's team to terra haute!
9. Georgia Tech. Engineers make bank. They had a guy make nationals last year that no one had ever heard of before, so obviously coach Drosky knows what he is doing
10. put the remaining teams in a hat and pull out a name...UT Chatanooga......great little town with a coach who is rough around the edges but a great guy
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