Started on the female side with Molly and Anna, then kept building depth with the men, eventually landing the top-flight runners that bring in more prospects.
The depth on the men's side is encouraging.
2 Pitt runners paced the 1st 2k, with ND up front behind them. hen ND's top 5 took over with the rest of the runners bunched behind. Nuguse and Jacops were the top 2 from 3k to 4.8k when Velasco of Wake Forest and Nuguse took off and the runners started spreading out with all 5 ND guys near the front. By 6k Nuguse took the lead and Jacobs moved to 2nd along with Shanklin of NC State who moved to the front at 7k but Yared stayed close and passed with 500 meters left to win easily at 23.03.6. They looked great with 40 pts to NC State's 54 and perennial ACC winner Cuse way back at 6th. Only other title they hadn't won since 2013 was when ND won in 2018.
I just looked up the scores and only NC State had their 5 runners faster than our top 7 as Alexander was 24th and Carmody was 27. In fact ND's top seven were better than the top score of 8 of the ACC teams. Also not only did we have the best two Freshman but also the fastest underclassman with Sophomore Jacobs 3rd behind the 2 seniors. Should be a good team next year with 5 of the 7 coming back, but losing Nuguse will be tough. Looking forward to the Regionals and Nationals next year when the PAC12 schools will be running.
I'll wait to watch the women's race since it was a disappointing finish for the Irish.
Since the season has been limited to only a couple events and NCAA championships in the Spring? Which would seem to conflict with track events?
Just wonder if Yared might be able to come back another year (assuming he wanted to)
there really isn't since xcountry championship is now scheduled March 21 at Ok State and outdoor T&F is June 9-12 in Eugene in the new Heyward field. The bigger conflict is indoor T&F that is scheduled in Arkansas March 12-13. ND is defendng DMR National Champions for the Indoor meet with Nuguse leading the way which they won in 2019 & last year was cancelled. Maybe they can see it as a training run for xcountry while competing hard, but that certainly makes it complicated.
As for seniors getting another year of eligibility will certainly allow a lot of choices, but they all don't lead to staying at their school. The student is looking for further education/training opportunities while each school looks at competitive talent, continuity with underclassmen/recruits, and ultimately what the school can afford and willing to fund. Nuguse and ND will reveal what their intent as the summer approaches next year along with many other senior NCAA athletes. It is all going to be interesting.
They were both on the NCAA champion distance medley relay team last year and were honored at a football game. Fine young gentlemen.
Nuguse went on to win the NCAA 1500 meters.
Used to be best 6th place...our 6th ahead of their 6th
UNC won 1-3, ND won 4-5 (and 6-7, too).
I don't know the history / when it changed, but my understanding is that this has been in place for long enough not to be regarded as "new" any longer.
Incidentally, ND also had a slightly faster average time than UNC (~1.4 seconds). Average team times were super tight from 2-6 -- only about 4.3 seconds from top-to-bottom among these five.
... frosh recruits, Touhy and Starliper.
Not sure what’s up with that.
... running them in the NCAA championship next spring, if there is one.