Pre-Nationals Loaded With Top Contenders

By Adam Schneider of DyeStat 

Top-ranked Northern Arizona was very impressive at the Wisconsin Nuttycombe Invitational. The Lumberjacks put four in the top 10 and look like they are ready to three-peat even without using their top runner, Matthew Baxter. 

In the Cardinal race at Pre-Nationals, NAU will race No. 5 Stanford, No. 10 Colorado and No. 13 Oregon. The White race will feature second-ranked BYU against third-ranked Portland. It is likely that Northern Arizona and BYU will prove that they are the strongest favorites for the NCAA championships like they did last year after this same weekend. 

Big meets this weekend include: 

Oct. 12 Alabama at Florida State 

Oct. 12 Arkansas, Arkansas, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Eastern Kentucky, Iona, and Georgetown at Penn State National 

Oct. 13 Middle Tennessee State and Oklahoma State at Arturo Barrios Invitational 

Oct. 13 Northern Arizona, BYU, Portland, Wisconsin, Stanford, Syracuse, Colorado, Colorado State, Southern Utah, Washington, Arkansas, Air Force, Oregon, Mississippi, Washington State, Purdue, UCLA, Michigan, Campbell, Illinois, and Furman at NCAA D1 Pre-Nationals 

Oct. 13 Colorado State and Air Force at FHSU Tiger Open

Top 20 (September 26 ranking)

1. Northern Arizona (1) at Pre-Nationals

2. BYU (2) at Pre-Nationals

3. Portland (3) at Pre-Nationals and Warner Pacific

4. Wisconsin (9) hosts Pre-Nationals

5. Stanford (4) at Pre-Nationals

6. Iowa State (5) at Bradley Pink

7. Syracuse (10) at Pre-Nationals

8. Boise State (8) at Inland Empire

9. Colorado (6) at Pre-Nationals

10. Colorado State (11) at Pre-Nationals and FHSU Tiger Open

11. Washington (14) at Pre-Nationals (Friday)

12. Arkansas (15) at Penn State

13. Air Force (NR) at Pre-Nationals and FHSU Tiger Open

14. Oregon (12) at Pre-Nationals

15. Southern Utah (13) at Pre-Nationals

16. Mississippi (17) at Pre-Nationals

17. Alabama (7) at Florida State

18. Virginia (16) at Penn State

19. Washington State (19) at Pre-Nationals and Inland Empire

20. Purdue (NR) at Pre-Nationals 

Watch List - UCLA, Michigan, Virginia Tech, Campbell, Eastern Kentucky, Illinois, Middle Tennessee State (18), Furman, Georgetown, Oklahoma State (20)