Felt good to get out of the house.
Felt like a pilgrimage, to be honest with you.
Felt like I was back among my people.
Felt north Florida chilly. Bright sun.
Got there of course a moment late and the women’s field, some 250 lasses in bright lycra kits came floating by like a stream of colorful tropical fish.
First kilometer, one girl lost an orange Nike shoe. And kept right on running.
The following comes straight from the ustfccca.
So you know it’s the facts, Jack.
| 2021 NCAA DI Cross Country Championships – Final Standings | ||||
| Men’s Team | Score | Women’s Team | Score | |
| No. 1 Northern Arizona | 92 | No. 1 NC State | 84 | |
| No. 6 Iowa State | 137 | No. 4 BYU | 122 | |
| No. 3 Oklahoma State | 186 | No. 2 New Mexico | 130 | |
| No. 9 Arkansas | 195 | No. 3 Colorado | 187 | |
| No. 7 Stanford | 236 | No. 10 Notre Dame | 215 | |
If you want to feel old and slow, spend the morning with the greatest collegiate cross-country runners in the country. Loved every minute of it.
Women’s 6k Championship
NC State won its first-ever NCAA cross country team championship in convincing fashion, scoring 84 points to defeat defending champion No. 4 BYU, who totaled 122 points in a close battle over No. 2 New Mexico (130). No. 3 Colorado (187) earned the final podium position over No. 10 Notre Dame (215).
The Wolfpack were led by a close group that never strayed far from the front. Kelsey Chmiel led the way in sixth place, while Katelyn Tuohy (15th), Alexandra Hays (22nd) and Hannah Steelman (24th) gave NC State four runners in the top-25 when no other squad had more than two. Samantha Bush completed the scoring five in 32nd place.
NC State led at every split in the race, having leads that ranged from 86 points to the final margin of 38 points. The victory marked the Wolfpack’s first time at the top of the NCAA podium after a runner-up finish in the 2020 race that was held this past March. NC State, which was also runner-up in 1987 and 2001, had last been the nation’s top collegiate women’s program in the days of the AIAW, winning the 1979 and 1980 crowns.
Individually, BYU’s Whittni Orton charged up the final climb of “the wall” and then increased her lead to win in 19:25.4, with defending champion Mercy Chelangat of Alabama runner-up in 19:29.3. For Orton, it was her third win in three races this year. Ceili McCabe of West Virginia (19:29.5), Cailie Logue of Iowa State (19:29.8) and Taylor Roe of Oklahoma State (19:33.5) completed the top-5 individuals.
Men’s 10k Championship
Northern Arizona returned to the throne in repeating as NCAA champions for a fifth title in the last six years. The Lumberjacks scored 92 points, with No. 6 Iowa State finishing second with 137 points. The Cyclones surprised many in finishing ahead of Midwest Region champ No. 3 Oklahoma State. The Cowboys were third with 186 points, with No. 9 Arkansas (195) completing the podium collection. No. 7 Stanford edged No. 10 Tulsa, 236-237, to complete the top-5.
NAU was strong up front as Abdihamid Nur finished seventh and was joined by Nico Young (11th) and Drew Bosley (13th) for three in the top-15, a collection no other squad could match. The Lumberjacks’ dominance – [I love it when you talk like that] – continued as its final two scorers – George Kusche (37th) and Brodey Hasty (39th) – gave NAU five in the top-40 as no one else could claim as many as four. NAU’s run of five NCAA men’s titles in six years has only been matched by Arkansas (1990-95).
The Lumberjacks didn’t take the lead until the 4k split, overtaking Notre Dame at that point with 91 points. Iowa State made its charge a little later, taking over the runner-up position at the 6k split and improving its point total at every checkpoint thereafter.
Conner Mantz of BYU repeated as individual champ, crossing the line in 28:33.1 ahead of Iowa State’s Wesley Kiptoo (28:38.7) and Athanas Kioko of Campbell (28:40.9). Kioko took the lead after the final ascent of “the wall,” but Mantz had plenty left in the tank to re-take the lead and jet away to victory. The repeat victories by Mantz are the meet’s first since Oregon’s Edward Cheserek won three in a row in 2013-15.
Charles Hicks of Stanford was fourth in 28:47.2 and Morgan Beadlescomb of Michigan State finished fifth in 28:50.6, ahead of last year’s runner-up, Adriaan Wildschutt of Florida State (28:52.0).
I was there and I didn’t see Cooper’s struggle to the finish line. What was I looking at. I wonder.
Which reminds me. Great television coverage. Outstanding event production. Tickets only $10.
These are the NAU guys I remember.
These are the guys who were running around Flagstaff the same time I was.
1987 Hall of Fame Class
NAU Cross Country Team (Co-Champions-Big Sky, 1971)
The 1971 cross country team place ninth in the NCAA, Division 1 Championship Meet held at the University of Tennessee. Coached by Dr. Leo Haberlack, they won the University of Arizona and the University of Nevada (Las Vegas) Invitational. Losing only one meet during the 1971 season, they defeated rival Arizona State University in their dual meet.
All-American Runners: 1969-Dave Tochere (7th place finish) and Richard (Sliney) Lawrence (8th place finish), first team NCAA Division 1.
1972- Dave Tocheri (10th place finish) and Richard (Sliney) Lawrence (23rd place finish), both first team NCAA-Division 1.
Members: Richard (Sliney) Lawrence, Wayne Sisson, Richard Selby, Ron Mann, Jeff Rigdon, Dan Sauers, Tsosie Taylor, Kevin Slotta, Coach Leo Haberlack, Chris Godsall, Jeff Street, Steve Cross, Gregg Sawyer, Neil Howk, Eddie Garduno and Dave Tocheri.
Click on the link and find every split and finishing time and team scores.
https://live.pttiming.cuom/XC-PTT.html?mid=2431
And let’s not forget the young student-athlete who won the Big 90 Award, something like that, for being the most amazing guy with a 3.99 GPA in intragalactic molecular microenviromental biology. Something like that.
I left the Championship with one thought in mind.
Why not a 4.0? Who screwed that up?
Two thoughts. And how soon can I come back?