Syracuse proved a higher ranking with a quality performance at Coast-to-Coast Battle in Beantown. Dartmouth ran very well there and Oklahoma joined the top 20 with a great performance at Virginia Panhandle Farms. Now that the 'counting' meets are starting to happen, top sevens from different teams are trying to race hard and gain points to help them with NCAA selections.

1.  Colorado - Sophomore Zach Perrin (14:43) won the CSU duals and led a group of Buffs looking to end up in the top seven at the end of year including unattached John Dressel (2nd in 14:51). Next race is Rocky Mountain Shootout on October 3.   (1)

2.  Stanford easily won their Invitational (33 to 53 over Cal Poly) with Sean McGorty (23:07.0) way out ahead and Grant Fisher (23:33.9), who ran unattached, in second in an impressive performance for both. No one else from Stanford’s top seven ran.  The Cardinal used the short course (6000m) Fresno State Invitational as an ice-breaker and sophomore Thomas Coyle ran well (6th along with Joe Rosa). The next meet for the Cardinal is the Washington Invitational on October 2nd. (2)

3. Syracuse dominated the Coast-to Coast Battle in Beantown taking three of the first four spots, as Justin Knight got the win over Matt McClintock of Purdue. 1-5 spread was 25 seconds. Syracuse and Michigan ran without #1s (Syracuse ran without three of their top four) and Michigan won at Harry Groves Spiked Shoe (8400m) 35-42. Next race is the Wisconsin Adidas on October 16th.  (5)

4.  Iona did not run their top seven at home and were out of the running for the team title at the Br. Doyle Meet of Champions. Xavier King (18:53.1 for 6000m) led Iona (27-29 over Marist) at the Marist Opener. Next up for Iona is a split squad weekend of Paul Short Run on October 2nd and Greater Louisville Classic on October 3rd.  (4)

5.  Michigan won Harry Groves Spiked Shoe (missing two of top three) after dominating the EMU Celebration 5k. Next race is the Greater Louisville Classic on October 3.       (7)

6.  Oregon dominated the Bill Dillinger Invitational with a solid group of five in front led by Edward Cheserek (24:26.0) as they finished in a pack. It was just released they added junior Ryan Gil from Georgetown (141st in 2014). Next for the Ducks is the Washington Invitational on October 2nd.  (6)

7.  Oklahoma State sophomore Cerake Gebrekidane won his second consecutive race for the Cowboys to win the Jamboree.  Expected #1 Craig Nowak ran unattached in 18th.  Coach Smith is likely helping his runners nurse injuries. Next for Oklahoma State is the Crimson Classic on October 16th. (3)

8.  Wisconsin ran their top seven as a pack at Br. Doyle Meet of Champions and easily won (25-51 over Arkansas). Junior Russell Sandvold led Wisconsin in third (19:02.8) over the 6000m course at the Badger Opener. Their next race is the Greater Louisville Classic on October 3rd.  (8)

9.  Villanova was second at Main Line with some runners (including winner Patrick Tiernana) running unattached and others that helped the team finish second (lost 20-72 to Penn). None of their top seven ran at Big 5 and the Wildcats finished fifth. Their next race is the Paul Short Run on October 2nd. (9)

10. Mississippi did not use any of their top runners at the Commodore Classic or Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic. Their next race is the Greater Louisville Classic on October 3rd. (10)

11. Virginia won the Panorama Farms Invitational with 41 to 58 for Oklahoma as they told five of the first 12 spots (:14 spread), led by Henry Wynne (fifth) and Brent Demarest (sixth) . The Cavaliers swept the UVA duals as Henry Wynne got off to a great season start and led the Cavaliers. Next is Wisconsin Adidas Invitational on October 16th.    (11)

12. UCLA easily won the Mustang Challenge using runners expected to #6-#7 on the team as sophomore Myles Smith won. They previously competed at the Nevada Twilight Classic with runners competing for a top seven spot. The Bruins next compete at the Washington Invitational on October 2nd.  (12)

13. Eastern Kentucky did not run their top five at Panorama Farms and finished sixth.has won their first two meets in Kentucky (Kentucky Bluegrass this week) and freshman Alex Rotich won the Ohio Valley runner of the week two weeks in a row. With new runners and fewer injuries so far compared to last year this team could move back into the top 20 at the NCAA meet (23rd in 2014 and 15th in 2013). Their next race is the Greater Louisville Classic on October 3rd. (13)

14. Indiana ran as a pack and easily won the Indiana Intercollegiates but not all of the top runners ran well in a relaxed pace. Owen Skeet won the Indiana Open 8000m in 25:48.41. Next up for the Hoosiers is the Princeton Inter-Regionals on October 3rd. (14)

15.  BYU dominated the WCC preview meet (18 to 43 for Gonzaga) after dominating the BYU Autumn Classic (15). Next for BYU will be top competition at the Washington Invitational on October 2nd. (15)

16. Oklahoma ran very well in second at Virginia Panorama Farms Invitational led by Brandon Doughty (3rd) and Jacob Burcham (4th). They were second to Virginia 41 to 58. They were second at the Ken Garland Invitational without using anyone in their top 7. They will be at Wisconsin Adidas on October 16. (unr)

17. Dartmouth ran very well as a pack (8-12-14-15-18, :15.6 difference) at Coast-to-Coast Battle in Beantown and finished a very strong second to #3 Syracuse. They ran as a pack led by three seniors and two juniors. They have significantly improved over last year’s team that finished ninth at the Northeast Regional as an improving junior Nathaniel Adams (:42 faster on same course), #1 at Northeast regional was #5 at this race. Next for Dartmouth is the New England Championships on October 10th. (unr)

18. Portland won the Lewis and Clark Invitational with runners looking for a top seven spot and the same group was third at Ash Creek. Their next race is the UW Invitational on October 2nd.   (16)

19. Washington had their streak of individual winners continue as senior Izaic Yorks won at Sundodger but three of the Huskies’ top four runners rested and Washington State won 24-33. The Huskies took eight of the first eleven spots on the 4.5 mile course UW-Seattle Open. Next is the Washington Invitational on October 2nd.   (17)

20. UTEP took five of the first seven spots and dominated the Kachina Classic over 7000m (led by Jonah Koech over Anthony Rotich).  Previously six runners dominated the 6000m race and ran as a pack at the Texas Tech/NM State dual and the same six repeated the feat at The Lori Fitzgerald Classic. Next for the Miners is Notre Dame Invitational on October 2nd. (18)

Of Interest

Furman finished third at Virginia Panorama (88 behind 41 for Virginia and 58 for Oklahoma) in their first challenge of the year. They took the top ten spots at the Queens Twilight using runners competing for a lower top seven spot and then dominated the Furman Cross Country Classic (16 to 46 over Auburn). Next is the Gene Mullin Invitational on October 10th. (19) 

Georgetown biggest loss was losing junior Ryan Gil to transfer. They were second at the Navy Invitational after they used none of their top six. Next for the Hoyas is the Paul Short Run on October 2nd.  (20)

Michigan State did not run their top three at Roy Griak and still win a tight competition with 74 to 88 for Southern Utah and 94 for California. Next is the Jayhawk Invitational on October 9th.

Louisville won the Commodore Classic (53 to 68 over Ohio State) and showed their #5 runner issue. Previously they won the Evansville Early Bird Opener with many of the Cardinals running easily. Their next race is the Greater Louisville Classic on October 3rd.

Northern Arizona ran well with a young group and no Alejandro Maldonado and lost 2nd due to a tie-breaker. Cory Glines was fourth (24:56.6), They introduced sophomore transfer Cory Glines as a Lumberjack and he beat regular Alejandro Maldonado at the George Kyte Classic as they dominated competition (perfect score of 15) among Arizona schools. Next up for the Lumberjacks is the Wildcat Invitational on October 9th.

Arkansas was second at the Br. Doyle Meet of Champions and Frankline Tonui was the individual winner but Wisconsin ran as a pack.. They ran at the Cowboy Preview and gave some of their younger runners some experience. Next up for the Razorbacks is the Chili Pepper Festival on October 3rd.

Mens D1 Cross Country