An impressive performance at the Pre-NCAA meet at Iowa State Saturday has helped gain recognition for the Oregon men’s cross country team.
After placing eighth out of 53 teams in Ames, Iowa, the Ducks rose five places in the national polls to the No. 13 spot.
Martin Smith’s squad beat out seven of the 14 ranked teams entered in the Pre-NCAA meet. Colorado earned the top nod in the poll after winning in Iowa. Pacific-10 Conference rival Stanford fell to No. 3 after placing second.
The Oregon women fell completely out of the polls after a disappointing performance in Iowa. The Ducks were ranked No. 22, but after finishing 21st out of 56 teams, they received only one vote in the national coaches’ poll.
Defending national champion Brigham Young remained the top women’s team.
PR watch
The only Oregon runner to come close to his or her personal best last Saturday at the Pre-NCAA meet was senior Michael Kasahun. The transfer from Fresno City College equaled his 10,000-meter personal best with a time of 31 minutes, 41 seconds.
Considering that the Iowa State course is hilly and not known for personal records, Kasahun’s run is much more impressive.
Kasahun is having a breakthrough year in his second season with the Ducks. The Kenyan was Oregon’s top finisher at the Roy Griak Invitational Sept. 23 and was second on the team to sophomore Jason Hartmann at the Pre-NCAA meet.
Looking ahead
The Oregon cross country teams will have another two-week break between meets. Coming up for Oregon are the Pacific-10 Conference Championships in Seattle Oct. 28.
Although the meet will decide the conference champions, it has little effect on which teams qualify for the NCAA meet Nov. 20. What the meet will affect are the national coaches’ polls, which have a major impact on which teams receive at-large bids for the tournament.
The meet that will decide the Ducks’ NCAA fate is the NCAA Western Regional meet Nov. 11 in Fresno, Calif.
Western region update
Although the Oregon men’s cross country team rose in the national polls to No. 13, it remained third among teams in the West region. The Ducks must place in the top-two at the regional meet to automatically qualify for the NCAA meet. Their No. 13 ranking does put the Ducks in good position for an at-large bid.
Oregon trails Stanford and Arizona in the rankings.
The women are in a tougher spot. Head coach Tom Heinonen’s team trails West region rivals Stanford, Arizona State, Washington and Arizona in the coaches’ polls.
