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
Thursday, July 31, 2008
2008 Cross Country Schedules
I have looked on most of the team websites and from what I have gathered here is where the top teams from the South Region will be competing this fall. NCAA South Regionals are on 11.15.08 and are hosted by the University of Tennessee.
Looking at the schedules posted thus far there could be an abundance of At-large points accumulated from this region (assuming the teams perform well).
On the week of 9.27 we have Tennessee in Virgina at the Interrgionals and Auburn out at Minnesota at the Roy Griak meet
10.3-4 is BIG with Auburn hosting a meet, Alabama at Oregon for the Dellinger Invite, Florida and FSU at Notre Dame and Tennessee at Louisville.
Pre-Nats looks the place all the cool kids (are cross country runners and coaches cool kids?) are going to be with Florida, FSU, Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee and I am sure others as well all attending.
Alabama 9.5 UT Chatanooga, 9.20 Home Crimson Classic, 10.4 Dellenger Invite Oregon, 10.18 Pre nats, 11.3 SEC's (Startkville, MS)
Florida 9.20 home, 10.3 Notre Dame, 10.18 Pre Nats, 11.3 SEC's
FSU 10.3 Notre Dame, 10.18 Pre Nats, 11.1 ACC Champs, Chapel Hill,NC
Georgia Not yet posted
Tennessee 9.19 UT Invite, 9.27 Collonial Interregional Williamsburg, VA, 10.4 Louisville 10.18 Pre Nats, 11.3 SEC's
Auburn 9.5 UT Chatanooga, 9.27 Roy Griak U of Minnesota, 10.4 Auburn, 10.18 Pre Nats, 11.3 SEC's
Miss State- Not yet posted
Belmont- Not Yet Posted
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Women's South Region Cross country blog 1
Same as the men with this first blog. A quick recap of how things finished last year and what we are looking forward to in 2008. There are no predictions yet as I am you can help me fill in any missing info on transfers and incoming freshmen that I can't find on the internet or through my vast network of reliable and unreliable sources.
Last year was good year for the women's team in the region and this year looks to be very similar.
Last years top ten teams were as follows 1. Florida State (40) 2. Georgia (75)3. Florida (94) 4. Tennessee (152) 5. UAB (184) 6. Georgia State (210) 7 Georgia Tech (237) 8. Samford (249) 9. Chatanooga (258) 10. Belmont (272) and
Top 10 indivuduals were
1. Kuijken (FSU) 2. Parker(FSU) 3. Blankenship (Samford) 4. England (FSU) 5 Weaver (Belmont) 6. Mademach (Georgia) 7. Picchetti (Georgia) 8. Hannah (Georgia State) 9. Ambrus (UAB) 10. Sundell (Florida)
Out of the top 25 Individuals 13 have graduated including the majority of the top 10 (2, 3, 5, 6, 7. 8. 9. 10)
Florida State returns 4 of there top 7 including defending champ Kuijken
Georgia graduates their top 3 but there next 4 are back with their top returner in last year at 21st
Florida has 5 of their top 7 back but lost their top runner who finished 10th
Tennessee ran 5 girls at the regional meet and returns all 5
UAB graduates their top 3, then returns their 4 through 6 with a top returner in 45th
Georgia State has 4 of their top 6 back but lost there number 1
Georgia Tech graduates 4 of their top 5 including their top 3
Samford takes a big hit with the graduation of their number one but then returns their next 5
Chatanooga returns their 2 through 6.
New for 2008 (fact and fiction?)
Florida State did very well for themselves landing Leslie Van Meirt as a transfer from NAU she was 9th or 10th at the NCAA 5000 outdoors. They then added at least three very talented freshmen in Kacy Gibson (PA), Jennifer Dunn (AL) and Keisha Danso Depah (Canada) I would not be suprised if they have another transfer or two out their as well
Georgia added Makayla(sp) Plank as a transfer from Iona. She ran a couple races indoors but then I heard she was hurt and decided to prepare for this fall. She is a big pick up. Kristy Krueger a freshmen from Texas will also be a nice addition.
Florida adds another Austrailian (their freshmen this past year was pretty solid) so they are hoping the new Aussie can fit in just as well and also add a very good transfer from UNLV and England Charlette Browning. Coach Morgan has a nice team this fall
Tennessee added a few 800 meter girls but I'm not sure if they will run XC or not. I have heard an unconfirmed report that Aurora Scott maybe in Knoxville as well
UAB has a couple of internationals listed in their signing class. I tried to look up results on them but to no avail. They also got a girl from Illinois and a few girls from Alabama as well.
So from what I have seen is the top teams here got stronger and the others add some girls who may help them in a few years but no big hitters right now.
A sleeper out their is Alabama. Not a top 10 team this past fall but with the addition of Betty Rotich this past January and Kelsey Johnson of Texas this fall they look to be good.
Please email me at southregionblogger@gmail.com to pass on any info on transfers and such.
Next week comes the pre season predictions
later
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Alabama returns everyone..and adds a knockout puncher
This is the 2008 NCAA South Region Cross Country blog. I have hijacked this from Tim Goldsack, who is no longer allowed to do it as he would have a very biased opinion as he works for Joe Walker at Alabama (I'm going out on a limb here to say they will be heavily favored to repeat as region champs this year, although I won't officially make that prediction for a few blogs). So he is disqualified from his South Region blogging responsibilities. However I nominate him to take over the Mid-Atlantic region blog.
This first posting is a men's posting (women's next week) and is a run down of how last year ended up, who returns this year and who doesn't. I would love emails at southregionblogger@gmail.com to correct any mistakes or omissions. I know there will be a few! Please don't correct my spelling or grammar as I am from the South and prone to these mistakes.
So here we go, starting with last years top 10 teams
Top Teams 1. Alabama (28) 2.FSU (52)3.Florida(82) 4.Belmont(121) 5. Mississippi State (135) 6. Auburn (152) 7.Georgia (176) 8. Tennessee (178) 9. Georgia Tech (230) 10. Tennessee Chatanooga (291)
and Individuals 1. Kibioywo (Auburn) 2. Bor (alabama) 3. maiyo (Alabama) 4.kirwa (alabama) 5. Gunn (FSU) 6. Kutingala (Alabama) 7. Criscione (Florida) 8.Buckingham (FSU) 9. Tirop (S. Alabama) 10. Gabart (FSU)
Now we go to who returns from last years teams and who doesn't (taking in to consideration graduation only, we will get to rumours of transfers and incoming freshmen in a moment)
****Taking into consideration top 100 finishers at the regional meet
Alabama Returns 2,3,4,6,14 and 65 lost 52
FSU returns 10, 15, 17, 78 and lost 5 and 8
Florida brings back 12 and 35 while losing 16,20,31 and 37
Belmont has 13 27 29 93 and 98 while gone away are 19 and 39
Mississippi State has 25,26 and 40 back in Starkville while 22 and 28 have moved on
Auburn is returning 1 42 50 53 55 and 87 and has 21 leaving
Georgia returns 36 71 75 and graduate 18 32 41 and 62
Tennessee has 24 34 38 44 51 and 70 back
Georgia Tech 57 77 81 and 91 all return while 11 and 30 while not be Yellow Jackets this fall
Tennessee Chattanooga returns 76 and 83 and loses 23 59 and 85
So now this is where we can have some fun. I want your help with this as I am not all knowing and omnipotent so I may here some gossip on who is transferring for whatever reason (love, coaching, the inability to read or write) and I did read Dyestat to see which high school kids signed where) I am missing out on some things for sure. Email me at southregionblogger@gmail.com to give me the goods. I will then pass on the information and claim it as mine!
Alabama added a gem this past January in Tyson David, I'm sure you have come across his name in results. All he did was set the SEC 10,000m record in like 28:20 and then finish third at the NCAA champs in the same event. This cat is good! Not sure if it's true or not but I also heard they may have signed Girma Mesecho (I also heard Arkansas and Georgia)
Florida State signed a good one in Mike Fout, you know the footlocker champ. I know Bob is happy about this because I saw the picture of him giving the kid a bear hug after he won footlocker (the pic with that big ncaa championship ring that is almost as big as his smile!). Now rumour also has it Mark Buckingham may have another year of eligibility but I also heard he has a navicular stress fracture.
Florida now I have heard nothing except a 9:05 2 miler type out of Pennsylvania. Don't know much about him but I am sure he will like the winters better in the south
Belmont well honestly, I know nothing (help me out here ok)
Mississippi State, the news here is not good for them as Ben Blankenship has decided to pack it in and head back to Minnesota. I'm sure they added someone because Dudley works his butt off and always gets a few kids
Auburn has done well for themselves from what I hear. In January they added Jean-Pierre Weerts who ran 13:55 for them, Dyestat says they added Elkanah Kibet who was very good as a JUCO athelte, actually beating Tyson David in the fall and winning the JUCO 10,000. I have heard a rumour about an aussie as well
Georgia better have signed Girma because I don't think they have anyone else
Tennessee added Joe Franklin and Chris Bodary both had very good high school seasons and these guys will develop well under Coach Watts
Georgia Tech are bringing on board a bunch of kids who will become engineers later in life and Tennessee Chattanooga has?
So that is it for this week send me info on transfers and recruits to southregionblogger@gmail.com
later
Not Tim Goldsack
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