I don't post much about cross country, but tomorrow, Tech will be running in an incredible field at the Nuttycombe Invitational in Madison, WI. After running 2 low-key meets at ACU and Tech, with fields made up mostly of sub-D-1 schools, this week the Red Raiders will take on a terrific field. How good is it? On the women's side, there are 15 of the top 30 teams in the nation running and on the men's side it is even tougher, with 18 of of the top 30 teams competing! Tech will know a lot more about the Red Raider teams after this weekend.
WOMEN -- for Tech, one thing I do know is that our best distance runner, Nokuthula Dlamini, is redshirting this fall -- to even her eligibility with what she still has available in outdoor and indoor track. Based on the article on Texastech.com, I still don't know for sure who will be running in Wisconsin, but they only allow 7 runners per team. I would expect for returnees Lauren Offerman and Bret Leight Nance to both run (both have been looking MUCH improved this year over past season); JC transfer Seselia Dala; and true freshman Binta Ka. The other 3 runners will come from a group that includes freshman Natalie Gomez; redshirt freshmen Arianna Lopez (who looked great at the meet in Abilene) and Jazmyn Martinez; sophomore Allison Halloran; redshirt sophomore Jessica Gallardo; and the only senior on the team - Kaitlyn Tharp.
So, what top 30 teams are in this field? Top-ranked New Mexico; Colorado (#2); Boise State (#5); NC State (6); host Wisconsin (#7); Villanova (#8); Arkansas (#9) -- 7 of the national top 10. Then, Penn State (#13); Michigan State (#15); Iowa State (#17); Indiana (#19); Providence (#25); Georgetown (#27); Portland (#29) and Okie State (#30). The competing schools also receiving votes in the poll are Texas and Colorado State. WHEW! Also in the women's field is Big 12 member TCU (which has a pretty decent team this year). There are 33 teams and I will consider this meet a ringing success for the Tech women if they finish 30th or higher.
MEN -- the men's team has a much stronger top 3 than last year. Tech's lead runner, Miguel Bautista, was 2nd in the Big 12 XC in 2016, before having to sit out 2017 to iron out some academic problems. Soph Cornelius Kiprotich will be a strong #2 runner. Joacim Zuniga ran #1 last year for Tech and now he running faster than last year and still running #3 for Tech -- very encouraging for Tech's depth. I expect to see junior Stephen Alvarez running this week as well. Then, there will probably be 5 men fighting it out for the final 3 spots: freshman Luke Estes (who looked good at the 1st meet -- not so much in the 2nd meet); senior Michael Benoit; juniors Nathan Gift, Grant Laselle, and Shea Whatley.
In the field are 60% of the nation's top 30: #1 Northern Arizona; #3 Portland; #5 Iowa State; #6 Alabama; #7 Colorado; #9 host Wisconsin; #18 Colorado State -- again, 7 of the top 10. Followed by #14 Southern Utah; #15 Washington State; #16 Iona; #17 Air Force; #21 Michigan State; #22 Okie State; #25 NC State; #26 Boise State; #27 Villanova; #29 Indiana; and #30 Texas. Other teams that got points in the poll include Butler, Eastern Kentucky, and Georgetown.
The Tech men are fairly competitive this year. Not a top-30 kind of team yet, but Bautista and Kiprotich could finish top 30 and if they do, you could see Tech finishing in the 23rd to 26th range in this stellar field.
WOMEN -- for Tech, one thing I do know is that our best distance runner, Nokuthula Dlamini, is redshirting this fall -- to even her eligibility with what she still has available in outdoor and indoor track. Based on the article on Texastech.com, I still don't know for sure who will be running in Wisconsin, but they only allow 7 runners per team. I would expect for returnees Lauren Offerman and Bret Leight Nance to both run (both have been looking MUCH improved this year over past season); JC transfer Seselia Dala; and true freshman Binta Ka. The other 3 runners will come from a group that includes freshman Natalie Gomez; redshirt freshmen Arianna Lopez (who looked great at the meet in Abilene) and Jazmyn Martinez; sophomore Allison Halloran; redshirt sophomore Jessica Gallardo; and the only senior on the team - Kaitlyn Tharp.
So, what top 30 teams are in this field? Top-ranked New Mexico; Colorado (#2); Boise State (#5); NC State (6); host Wisconsin (#7); Villanova (#8); Arkansas (#9) -- 7 of the national top 10. Then, Penn State (#13); Michigan State (#15); Iowa State (#17); Indiana (#19); Providence (#25); Georgetown (#27); Portland (#29) and Okie State (#30). The competing schools also receiving votes in the poll are Texas and Colorado State. WHEW! Also in the women's field is Big 12 member TCU (which has a pretty decent team this year). There are 33 teams and I will consider this meet a ringing success for the Tech women if they finish 30th or higher.
MEN -- the men's team has a much stronger top 3 than last year. Tech's lead runner, Miguel Bautista, was 2nd in the Big 12 XC in 2016, before having to sit out 2017 to iron out some academic problems. Soph Cornelius Kiprotich will be a strong #2 runner. Joacim Zuniga ran #1 last year for Tech and now he running faster than last year and still running #3 for Tech -- very encouraging for Tech's depth. I expect to see junior Stephen Alvarez running this week as well. Then, there will probably be 5 men fighting it out for the final 3 spots: freshman Luke Estes (who looked good at the 1st meet -- not so much in the 2nd meet); senior Michael Benoit; juniors Nathan Gift, Grant Laselle, and Shea Whatley.
In the field are 60% of the nation's top 30: #1 Northern Arizona; #3 Portland; #5 Iowa State; #6 Alabama; #7 Colorado; #9 host Wisconsin; #18 Colorado State -- again, 7 of the top 10. Followed by #14 Southern Utah; #15 Washington State; #16 Iona; #17 Air Force; #21 Michigan State; #22 Okie State; #25 NC State; #26 Boise State; #27 Villanova; #29 Indiana; and #30 Texas. Other teams that got points in the poll include Butler, Eastern Kentucky, and Georgetown.
The Tech men are fairly competitive this year. Not a top-30 kind of team yet, but Bautista and Kiprotich could finish top 30 and if they do, you could see Tech finishing in the 23rd to 26th range in this stellar field.
