Who will win NCAA's?

First, a note.
I've been slower in posting this fall, as you might have noticed.
Even though I normally slow down during XC, this year's production has been the slowest--and the least!
It's partially due to health issues, but also to an awareness of a lack of real interest in my blog!
Who are my readers?
How many do I actually have?
Do my readers NEED this blog to continue?
Do you WANT it??
Many blogs I read get numerous comments.
During the entire (almost!) 3 years of this blog, only one man (Marco) has consistently commented--and praised!--what I've tried to do!
That is, to provide a serious look at the Records & Lists of T&F, in a way that's easy to understand, and entertaining to read!
I occasionally editorialize, but I try to keep that to a small percentage of my posts!
Assuming I continue posting, you can expect the next few days to be LOADED---with Age Records, Class Records, as well as the "generic" records of the World, US, Collegiates, and HS'ers!
I'll also reveal what marks are needed to make my Top 24 Performers lists for INdoors!
In fact, all of the above will focus on INdoor marks ONLY!!

But XC is still going!
The Regional races were held last weekend, and the Championship race will be in just 5 days!!
So let's see what happened at those Regionals, and what it tells us about who will be the top INDIVIDUAL contenders at the NCAA's!!

Justyn Knight took the Northeast Regional, his 30:30.52 defeating Colin Bennie by 2 seconds!
(Pay little attention to times!  Not important!)
Steepler Eleanor Purrier won over Courtney Smith, her 20:08.70 about 5 seconds in front!
Sarah Collins, a force in past years, finished 4th, 14 seconds behind Purrier!

The South races were taken by Anne-Marie Blaney's 20:07.2 and Jacob Choge's 30:19.8.
Veronica Eder finished one second back of Blaney, while MJ Erb was just  7th, 14 seconds behind the winner!

South Central's Men's race was taken by Emmanuel Rotich's 29:58.9, with Andrew Ronoh just over one second behind!
Devin Clark's 20:17.4 was 4 seconds in front of Maggie Montoya.
Destiny Collins was 22nd, a full 57 seconds behind Clark!

The Mountain Regional saw Futsam Ziensellassie's 30:54.10 defeat Jonah Koech's 30:58.60, with John Dressel ending in 5th, just one second behind Koech!
Jerrell Mock finished in 9th!
Alice Wright tore the Women's field apart, her 19:59.90 winning by 18 seconds!!
Erin Clark was 7th!

Luke Traynor and Joshua Thompson had a battle to the end of the Midwest race, both running in the 30:18-lows!
Karissa Schweizer, strong all season, continued looking good, her 19:54.4 beating Sharon Lobedi by 6 seconds!
Miler Kaela Edwards finished 6th, but 29 seconds in back of the winner!

The Mid-Atlantic Regionals were won by Patrick Tiernan's 30:33 and Tessa Barrett's 20:00!
Tiernan beat Scott Carpenter by 10 seconds, while Barrett won over Jillian Forsey by nine!
Angel Piccirillo was 8th, but 42 seconds behind the winner!

The Southeast races were taken by Annie Bothma and Aman Terer (??).
Erika Kemp was 2nd for the Women, while Lawrence Kipkoech won Silver for the Men.
Bothma ran 20:15.4, while Terer zipped a 28:48.7, but just one-tenth of a second in front of Kipkoech!
Ryen Frazier finished 10th, 27 seconds behind the winner!
Her older sister Wesley didn't run!

Malachy Schrobiljen took the Men's race at the Great Lakes Regionals, while 2nd placer Morgan McDonald was handed the same time of 30:22.2!!
(Based on the results sheet, it was NOT declared a tie!!)
Olin Hacker, son of miler Tim, took 12th!
Erin Finn continued her season as the leading contender for NCAA's, her 19:27.8 defeating Anna Rohrer's 19:35.7!

I saved the West Regional for last, for maybe obvious reasons!
Ed Cheserek ran as he pleased, his 29:23.7 taking care of business by 21 seconds over Matt Maton!!
Two "unknowns"--Fred Huxham and Alex Short--were 3rd and 4th, both 3 seconds behind Maton.
Sean McGorty was 9th, 32 seconds behind the King, while Grant Fisher ended right behind McGorty, but 2 places back!
Levi Thomet was just 78th, almost two full minutes behind Cheserek!!

The West Women's race was taken--decisively!!--by Amy Eloise-Neale's 19:27.8.
Over 12 seconds back was Charlotte Taylor in 2nd.
Brenna Peloquin was another 2 seconds back, just ahead of Lauren LaRocco!
Bethan Knights finished 8th, with Charlotte Prouse in 9th.
Following--in 11th, 13th, and 17th--were three Super Frosh--Katie Rainsberger, Fiona O'Keefe, and Christina Aragon!

Sooooo, what does the NCAA's Leaderboard look like, a few days before the fact?
Ches looks to win the Men's race---at ANY pace!
Justyn Knight, Futsam Ziensellassie, and Pat Tiernan look to be his only real "foes".
Watch for Sean McGorty and Grant Fisher, as well as Matt Maton, MJ Erb and Jerrell Mock to be in the Top 15 or 20!

The Women's race should be a Classic---a much tighter race than the Men's!
I'm picking Erin Finn for the win, with Brenna Peloquin and Anna Rohrer making it as tight a finish as we saw a few years back between Betsy Saina, Abbey D'Agostino, and Jordan Hasay!!
Dark Horse candidates include Washington's Amy Eloise-Neale and Charlotte Prouse, as well as Top 2016 XC Frosh Katie Rainsberger!!
Watch also for Tessa Barrett and Eleanor Purrier, with Alice Wright a SUPER candidate for a Top 10 finish!!

I have 3 OUTdoor items to report!!
Sally Pearson began what might be one of her last campaigns with a couple of OUTdoor wins.
She ran the 60 (Yes, this was OUTdoors!!) in 7.43.
She also ran a 150 in 17.95, but finished 2nd to a 16 year old!!
Riley Day ran 17.60!

New Zealand produced the other marks.
Erin Talcott competed in the NZ National 50K Walk Championships---and WON the race!!
Yes, she beat both women AND men!!!
Her time of 4:42:15 wasn't a PR, but WINNING the race was most unusual!!

Watch out, Eliza McCartney!!
Sixteen year old Olivia McTaggart Pole Vaulted 13-10 in a recent OUTdoor meet!
Eh?, you might say??
Well, how about if I tell you her mark broke McCartney's NZ Age Record??!!
Seems like all those stories about McCartney's getting the Rio Bronze being inspiring for NZ's young girl PV'ers is paying VERY early dividends!!

Watch for some INdoor Preview posts---soon!