Top teams reveal full complement at conference meets

By Adam Schneider of Dyestat

Top-ranked Brigham Young continued its dominating run through the season. With exceptional depth behind a top three among the best in NCAA Division 1, the Cougars are in a great position to win the NCAA title if they can continue their front-running pack when the distance is extended to 10,000 meters.

The Cougars dominated the WCC Championships ahead of fourth-ranked Portland. BYU has had a goal to train and race with NCAA 10,000 meter runner-up, junior Rory Linkletter, and the team has succeeded in its goal. At WCC, Linkletter was fourth behind senior teammate Connor McMillan (23:22.8 for 8,000 meters) as the Cougars took the first five spots (6.3-second gap for runners 1 to 5) and seven of the first 10. Portland was led by senior Jeff Thies (23:31.4) and junior Nick Hauger (23:31.6) in sixth and seventh.

Second-ranked Northern Arizona beat 13th-ranked Southern Utah 24-36 at the Big Sky Championships with the Lumberjacks taking the first three spots, junior Tyler Day (23:22.0), senior Matthew Baxter (23:23.0) and senior Andy Trouard (23:58.7). Senior Cory Glines finally debuted for the defending NCAA champions. Southern Utah was led by seniors Mike Tate (24:08.0) and Matt Wright (24:08.7) in fourth and fifth.

The strongest top-end conference every year is the Pac-12 Conference. Tenth-ranked Oregon and Washington State pushed the early pace and had the lead but sixth-ranked Stanford moved up and held off fifth-ranked Colorado at the end, 41-47. Stanford junior Grant Fisher (23:44.9) outkicked Colorado sophomore Joe Klecker (23:48.0) over the 8,000-meter course. Cardinal teammates junior Steven Fahy (23:51.3) and sophomore Alex Ostberg (23:51.5) finished third and fourth. The Buffaloes put their first five in the top 16 with a 20.8-second spread and the Cardinal put five in the first 18 with a 25.1-second gap to give Stanford head coach Chris Miltenberg his first career conference title. Veteran All-Americans seniors Sam Wharton (30th) and Jack Keelan (52nd) debuted for the Cardinal. Eighteenth-ranked UCLA was third (103) and Oregon was fourth (109).

Top Regional Teams at D1 Regionals:

Nov. 10 Mississippi, Alabama and Middle Tennessee State at NCAA D1 South Regional

Nov. 10 Furman, Virginia Tech, Campbell, Virginia, Eastern Kentucky, and North Carolina State at NCAA D1 Southeast Regional at Charlottesville, Virginia

Nov. 10 Syracuse, Iona, Columbia, Dartmouth at Northeast Regional at Buffalo, New York.

Nov. 10 Georgetown, Princeton, Navy, Penn State, and Villanova at NCAA D1 Mid-Atlantic Regional at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Nov. 10 Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Eastern Michigan, and Indiana at NCAA D1 Great Lakes Regional at Terre Haute, Indiana

Nov. 10 Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Illinois, Tulsa, Minnesota, at NCAA D1 Midwest Regional at Ames, Iowa

Nov. 10 Arkansas, Texas, and Texas A&M at NCAA D1 South Central Regional at College Station, Texas

Nov. 10 BYU, Northern Arizona, Colorado, Colorado State, Southern Utah, Utah State, Utah,, Air Force, and UTEP at NCAA D1 Mountain Regional at Logan, Utah

Nov. 10 Portland, Oregon, Stanford, Boise State, Washington, Washington State, Cal, UCLA at NCAA D1 West Regional at Seattle, Washington 

Top 20 (last week’s ranking) - Conference Results

1. Brigham Young (1) - 1st WCC Championships

2. Northern Arizona (2) - 1st Big Sky Championships

3. Syracuse (4) - 1st ACC Championships

4. Portland (6) - 2nd WCC Championships

5. Colorado (5) - 2nd Pac-12 Championships

6. Stanford (9) - 1st Pac-12 Championships

7. Arkansas (3) - 1st SEC Championships

8. Furman (10) - 1st Southern Championships

9. Iona (11) - 1st MAAC Championships

10. Oregon (7) - 4th Pac-12 Championships

11. Virginia Tech (8) - 2nd ACC Championships

12. Colorado State (14) - 1st Mt. West Championships

13. Southern Utah (13) - 2nd Big Sky Championships

14. Iowa State (18) - 1st Big 12 Championships

15. Alabama (NR) - 2nd SEC Championships

16. Mississippi (12) - 3rd SEC Championships

17. Oklahoma State (15) - 3rd Big 12 Championships

18. UCLA (20) - 3rd Pac-12 Championships

19. Michigan (NR) - 1st Big Ten Championships

20. Texas (NR) - 2nd Big 12 Championships

Who to watch: Campbell, Michigan State, Washington, Washington State, Wisconsin, Air Force, NC State, Eastern Kentucky, Virginia, Illinois, Boise State, UTEP, Princeton, Middle Tennessee State, Utah State